Chicago Cougars (FABL) - Page 33

ayaghmour2 · 10-28-2021, 05:21 PM

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 30-29 (5th, 3.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Freddie Jones : 26 AB, 12 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .462 AVG, 1.210 OPS
Carlos Montes : 21 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .381 AVG, 1.219 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .375 AVG, 1.048 OPS

Schedule
6-19: Win vs Cannons (2-11)
6-21: Win vs Saints (5-9)
6-22: Loss vs Saints (10-9)
6-23: Win vs Saints (3-5): 13 innings
6-24: Win vs Kings (0-2)
6-25: Win vs Kings (0-1)

Recap
So go 5-1 and make up one game, but go 4-3 and make up two? Would it be better to go 4-3? Of course not! An amazing and happy week, and what makes it even better, is Jim Lonardo will not only get to keep his nice Chicago home, but play for the Cougars instead of the Chiefs! Obviously this makes us better, and having a top pitcher like Lonardo can only help. We finished off the Cannons with a sweep, took two of three from the Saints, and then we actually have the chance to sweep the Kings! It was a weird week, half the week we destroyed opposition pitchers, half the week we couldn't hit a lick, but whenever you end up 5-1, you'll accept the 2-0 and 1-0 wins instead of dwelling on the disappearance of offense.

Peter the Heater looked like the arm I've always envisioned, tossing a 3-hit shutout in our 1-0 win over the Kings. He walked just 5 and struck out 9, finally dropping his ERA below 5. His 53 strikeouts are now third best in the league, but with the Lonardo acquisition, him and Cy are going to see their starts occur a bit less frequently as the season goes on. I think Pete will be a perfect stopper, but with a week before a Lonardo start, him and Cy have one last chance to hold on. The other shutout came from the one youngster who's actually pitched well, the reliable yet homer friendly Harry Parker. He allowed 5 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 3 in our 2-0 shutout victory over the Kings. That is back-to-back 5-hitters for Parker, who is now an even 5-5 with a 3.84 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, 30 walks, and 38 strikeouts in his 12 starts.

Our two start starter was Milt Fritz, who tossed what could be a complete game in both. The first was in our 11-2 win, going all nine with 8 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and a strikeout. The second was in our 5-3 win over a former team, Montreal, but since it went into extras, he didn't pitch the whole game. These nine frames saw 9 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts, to drop his season ERA to an about average 4.34 (97 ERA+). He hasn't looked great, but I have faith that Milt will end up with a nicer ERA once the season ends, as he's a very effective, if somewhat unreliable, rotation arm. The reliable Dick Lyons picked up another win, evening his record to 5-5 as well, going 7.1 with 7 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Cy wasn't as lucky, a no decision in our loss, 6 innings with 7 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and 2 strikeouts.

The loss went to Allen Purvis, 3 innings with 5 hits, 3 runs, and a strikeout. He's usually the scoreless one, but both Pug and Brown failed to allow a run despite three walks a piece. They both won't stay on the roster, as Brown will head to Milwaukee as I claimed longtime Cannon Dutch Leverett off waivers. Debuting with them in 1926, he's pitched an inning with them each year sense, 2,110.1 in total split between 250 starts and 166 relief outings. Now 36, Dutch is 114-123 with 31 saves, a 4.61 ERA (90 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 812 walks, and 765 strikeouts, and as a starter, he has six 200+ inning seasons. He'll pitch more mop up for us, but his stay on the roster may very well be short. Not just because of Lonardo, but there is a chance that someone more appealing comes on waivers.

Ray Ford returns to the big league club, sending Bobby Mills back down to Milwaukee. He didn't have the greatest success in Ford's absence, just 6-for-25 with a homer, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 5 RBIs. Lucky for us, while Ford was out, Carlos Montes almost hit like him. This week it was 8-for-21 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, 2 homers, and 7 RBIs. The season line still isn't pretty, but he's raised it to .240/.299/.429 (90 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 3 steals, and 25 RBIs. Freddie Jones also had another big week, 12-for-26 with 2 homers, 3 walks, 3 RBIs, and 8 runs scored. This was finally good enough for a Player of the Week, and Jones pushed his season line to .349/.417/.526 (148 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 5 triples, 4 homers, and 24 RBIs with almost double the walks (25) then strikeouts (13). Leo Mitchell boosted his average as well, 9-for-24 with 2 doubles, a homer, 5 RBIs, 4 runs, and 4 walks. John Lawson was 9-for-26 with his 9th homer of the season, as well as 2 doubles, 5 runs, and 6 RBIs.

Lastly, the draft was completed, so expect an recap on all the picks a bit later tonight. I have to sign a ton of guys, all in the top five rounds including Jimmy Ballard and Harry Harris of who I selected. For the new players, we have to sign six other prospects, but I'll cover them later. A few draftees that did sign cracked the top 500, including Connie Wright (288th), Arnie Scurlock (376th), and Bob Hobbs (495th). There will be a lot of movement, but we sit with 48 top 500 prospects, although that will drop one with the Jordan trade.

Looking Ahead
One more with the Kings, who we jumped ahead of and pushed down to 28-31. I doubt we'll shut them out a third time, but we have a shot to score more then two runs off the struggling top prospect Sergio Vergara. Vergara currently ranks as the 10th best prospect in baseball, but the 23-year-old from Juarez is 0-4 with a 7.20 ERA (60 ERA+), 1.91 WHIP, 24 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 6 starts and relief outings. I definitely think he'll turn things around, I just prefer if that happens after we bash his pitches out of Cougars park. Somehow, Brooklyn is 7th in runs scored despite being 2nd (to us) in homers, so hopefully we'll be able to stop them from scoring. Al Wheeler continues to heat up, two more homers to increase his season total to 12. He's hitting an average .263/.343/.455 (102 OPS+) with 5 doubles and 39 RBIs, but each time I look at him, his batting line continues to grow. A win should keep up our momentum, but I can't be too upset with a loss.

We welcome the Cannons back to town next, as they've dropped a bit further to 22-39 and 12.5 games out of first. No Barrell means starts for Howie Pike, who is 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA (86 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 9 walks, and 8 strikeouts in 2 starts and 9 relief outings. We'll likely see him, Payne, and Goulding, and Gus is the only one I'm worried about. He's lost his last three starts to fall to 5-8, but his 3.58 ERA (118 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, 32 walks, and 45 strikeouts are all strong metrics. The offense scores more the Brooklyn, but the rest of the offensive starts are much worse. They've had a lot of players struggle, including second basemen Charlie Ross. The first pick of the 1937 draft (after lottery rounds) will probably turn into a very good player, but the 24-year-old is not there yet. He's hitting just .247/.253/.258 (34 OPS+) with a double, walk, and 8 RBIs in his first 91 trips to the plate. His double play partner Charley McCullough's bat has started to freeze, his line dropping to .254/.397/.294 (84 OPS+) with 3 doubles, a triple, 13 RBIs, 29 walks, and 7 strikeouts in 157 PAs. Even worse, easily their best hitter Whit Williams is dealing with a strained oblique, which may make him miss this week. It's day-to-day, but a 3-4 week recovery, could be enough to put him on the DL. In his 60 games, he's slashed an impressive .307/.379/.485 (125 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 7 homers, 8 steals, and 40 RBIs. I like our chances in this series, and while a sweep would do us well, anything less then 2 of 3 would be a failure.

We finish the week and homestand with a big three game series against the Stars. We do get an off day after, but the 33-26 Stars will be a huge test, and one that would have been nice to have Lonardo for. The offense is strong, led by veteran outfielder Moxie Pidgeon. He's tied for the most homers in the league (12) by a non-Pestilli, and year one in New York has him hitting .318/.373/.500 (124 OPS+) with 8 doubles and 44 RBIs. The always intriguing Ray Cochran is continuing to excite, hitting .328/.409/.511 (137 OPS+) out of the leadoff spot. He's walked 32 times and struck out just 7 times, while adding 12 doubles, 11 triples, 3 homers, and 21 RBIs. But no one can compare to the 40-year-old Dave Trowbridge, who is still hitting a robust .346/.423/.478 (133 OPS+) with 13 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, and 37 RBIs with nearly twice the walks (30) as doubles (16). The rotation has started to improve as well, as the Stars now have the most strikeouts (237) in the league, and have gotten some quality innings from their youngsters. Billy Riley has turned things around, 6-7 with a 4.15 ERA (103 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 32 walks, and 41 strikeouts in an out less then 100 innings. Chris Clarke has been added to the rotation, and in 3 starts and 5 relief outings he is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA (127 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 14 walks, and 11 strikeouts. If run differential is your thing, we have the advantage over New York, and I'm really hoping we can take advantage of shaky defense and we hopefully pick up another series win here.

Minor League Report
RHP/CF Juan Pomales (AAA Milwaukee Blues): It's been a while since we got a Juan Pomales update, and I've been trying to squeeze him in, but there have always been a lot of guys throwing well. Well, this time it was Pomales, an 8-hit shutout in an 8-0 win. Pomales improved to 5-3, walking just one and striking out 8. This was his second complete game in three starts, and in his 9 starts he has a 4.26 ERA (126 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 13 walks, and 40 strikeouts in 67.2 impressive innings pitched. Of course, El Conjeo is more then just a pitcher, as he's hitting .318/.396/.502 (119 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 4 triples, 6 homers, 11 steals, and 27 RBIs in 231 trips to the plate. He has had some struggles in the outfield, an efficiency of .997, .989, .1.068 left to right, with near equal innings in center and right with a little less time in left. His prospect shine is growing too, now up to 45th in the league while jumping to third in the system after the Jordan trade. His tools are impressive, but sadly he throws just 84-86 with his fastball and sinker, something I thought would increase by now. His curve is really good and enough on it's own, even if the hard stuff doesn't overpower people. His control has really developed well, almost Lyons-esque, dropping his BB/9 to 1.7 this year. Tom thinks mid-rotation, OSA a still developing future #2, and I'm beyond stoked with his pitching development. At the plate, he's projected to be a .350 hitter with a good sense of balls and strikes. His speed creates havoc on the basepaths and he has shown strong range in the outfield. Maybe center won't be his final resting spot, although he can definitely handle it, but his arm is elite and he could be one of the best right fielders. Think Tom Taylor, just hopefully without the peaks and valleys at the plate. Pomales definitely seems ready for the big leagues, and I may not be able to keep in Milwaukee the whole season like I initially thought.

LF Chubby Hall (AA Mobile Commodores): Our minor league system has been really good this year. Milwaukee is in first, 42-16. So is Lincoln, 42-15. As are San Jose (40-17) and La Crosse (37-20). But for one reason or another, the Mobile Commodores are not so lucky. Just 26-31 and 12 games behind the New Orleans Showboats, things are not looking good for the Commodores, but don't tell that to Chubby Hall. He took home Player of the Week, 14-for-34 with 2 homers and 9 RBIs. As impressive as that sounds, he actually lower his season line, as he hit .412 during the week, causing his season line to drop to .433/.474/.615 (181 OPS+). He started the season in Lincoln, so he only has 116 plate appearances with Mobile, but he's already doubled 10 times, homered 3 times, and drove in 21 after 11, 1, and 8 respectively in Lincoln. This season has been a huge break out with the bat for the 1935 3rd Rounder, as the 22-year-old is inside the top 20 for prospects. Best in our system and 17th overall, Hall is a true gem who I was lucky that people passed up because of his corner outfield status. The defense there isn't great, but if you hit like he has, it doesn't really need to. The youngster has an elite hit tool and excellent plate discipline, swinging at the good pitches and not the ones he can't do anything with. His upside is unmatched in our system, reminding me a bit of Leo Mitchell just from the right side of the plate instead. I've taken my time so far with Hall, giving him two full seasons in La Crosse to get his footing, but he could be getting closer to Chicago, but OSA still projects a 1941 big league debut. I think he may be able to beat that my a year, but I know Rich Langton is starting to sweat. Mitchell is the best left fielder in the league, but Langton is ranked just 14th for right fielders, despite his .276/.315/.448 (100 OPS+) season line. He's also almost 28, and will turn 30 during the '41 season, and I won't be holding Hall down for Langton if Hall would look like an upgrade. The only thing he hasn't quite developed yet is his power, but as a flyball hitter, I can see a lot of flyballs sneaking over the fence, or the powerful Chicago winds can push a few warning track flies a little bit further.

LHP Ray Wilcox (A Lincoln Legislators): He did it again! It was a perfect early birthday gift for the now 24-year-old Wilcox, who tossed a 4-hit shutout in an 8-0 win over the Cedar Rapids Chiefs. It was his second shutout in his last three starts, this one saw him walk one and strike out nine. They keep telling me he's not ready for A ball, but the results have shown otherwise, as Wilcox is a nice 6-2 in his 9 starts. He owns a 4.45 ERA (116 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP with 22 walks and 51 strikeouts in 58.2 innings pitched. The strikeouts are way up for the southpaw, as he's been befuddling hitters on a much more frequent basis then ever before. His K/9 is an outstanding 7.8, and while obviously a career high, he has had two other 5.0 or higher in earlier stints at Class C and B. His stuff is very impressive, a bit like Tommy, but instead of a knuckler he features a high 80s cutter. His fastball, change, and splitter are solid as well, but he doesn't command them quite the same. OSA loves his stuff and thinks he'll be a strong back of the rotation starter, and if the last couple of starts are any indication of his future, they be on to something.

CF Jim Madsen (B San Jose Cougars): The addition of the new draftees has caused needed promotions and minor league adjustments, and one of the lucky guys going up is last year's 8th Rounder Jim Madsen. He's been off to a strong start in San Jose this year, batting .325/.414/.419 (113 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 18 steals, and 23 RBIs. He'll join the Lincoln outfield, and they'll take advantage of his speed and glove. He has a nice 6.2 zone rating and 1.043 efficiency, and he'll help keep the legs fresh up there, sharing time with Chick Browning, Doug Bennett, and one of our top prospects, Tony Mullis. At the plate, he tends to hit groundballs instead of line drives, but he tends to swing a little too frequently. Madsen may just project as a fourth outfielder, but the Rainier College alum seems to be developing into a productive player. The prospect people don't rank him in the top 500, but I'm liking the path he's taking up the system.

LHP John Jonson (C La Crosse Lions); John Johnson might be something special! In his last five starts, he has four nine inning complete games and one 12 inning one, and he hasn't allowed a run in his last two outings. This time he bested the Ottumwa Owls, a 2-hitter with 6 strikeouts to even his record, like Harry and Dick did, at 5-5. He has now started 7 games with 9 relief outings, with a nice 3.86 ERA (146 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 17 walks, and 33 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched. With an injury to Ray McNeil in Lincoln, we needed a few starters moved up, and with more guys joining La Crosse, Johnson was a perfect promotion target to San Jose where he'll join Oliver Allen. A former 9th Rounder, Johnson has done outstanding down in La Crosse, and certainly seems up for the challenge. He doesn't quite have big league starter written on him, but with a few lucky development bumps, we could have another reliable big league arm in our system.

ayaghmour2 · 10-28-2021, 10:34 PM

11th Round, 168th Overall: LHP Art Ramsey
School: Cleveland
Commit School: Chesapeake State
1939: 5-1, 69 IP, 1.96 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 11 BB, 62 K
Career: 15-3, 226.2 IP, 2.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 60 BB, 203 K

Definitely a little unlucky here, as Tom's best available pitcher turned out to be the impossible to sign Art Ramsey. Ramsey isn't the first impossible Art we have drafted, and while he does have elite command, I'm not so sure he'll be worth signing. He wants more then $19,000, and while I could give him that, I don't think it will be worth it. I sent a $15,000 offer in, and I expect him to decline. The southpaw is probably best suited attending Chesapeake State, as it will give him time to add velo to his mid 80s fastball. His curveball should be his out pitch, but home runs right now are his true weakness. He does have a future in a big league rotation, but he has a lot of work and might not have the right mix of talent and drive to get there.

12th Round, 84th Overall: 3B Bill Mangrum
School: Stringtown
Commit School: Texas Presbyterian University
1939: .438/.509/.674, 108 PA, 12 2B, 3 3B, HR, 23 RBI, 18 SB
Career: .438/.509/.674, 108 PA, 12 2B, 3 3B, HR, 23 RBI, 18 SB

While not impossible, I will have to send a signing bonus to "Okie" Mangrum if I want to convince him to become a Cougar instead of attending Texas Presbyterian. Just a one year starter at Stringtown, Mangrum had a rather high OPS despite just a single homer in his 21 prep games. He is an above average defender at third while his offensive potential may be limited by his poor plate discipline. I'm not overly excited by him, but it would sting to have my first two AI picks not become Cougar farmhands. No bonus has been sent in yet, but I may double back later and convince the Tulsa native to forgo his commitment.

13th Round, 200th Overall: 3B Dick Carson
School: Carolina Poly
1939: .259/.324/.373, 251 PA, 12 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 42 RBI, 11 SB
Career: .266/.363/.428, 781 PA, 34 2B, 3 3B, 23 HR, 124 RBI, 37 SB

A guy I actually considered for my regional pick, and then smartly decided against, I put the Chicagoan as the first player on the Round 13 list, so technically this was not an AI pick. A three year starter at Carolina Poly, 1939 was easily his worst season, with a career low in all three triple slash marks and his first slugging below .400. Since hitting 11 homers as a freshman, he hasn't quite shown that power again, 8 last year before cutting that in half to 4 this year. Unlike the first two guys, he signed without a bonus, and may get a game or two down in La Crosse, before potentially working his way into a starting role. I'm hoping he can show power once again, but he has struggled getting the barrel on the ball. OSA thinks he's an excellent defender, and he does have the ability to play second and short as well. Definitely a longshot for being a useful farmhand, but I will always take a chance on a Chicago kid.

14th Round, 226th Overall: CF Ernie Martini
School: Darnell State
1939: .296/.333/.398, 246 PA, 9 2B, 7 3B, 43 RBI, 40 SB
Career: .305/.348/.421, 687 PA, 24 2B, 22 3B, 2 HR, 114 RBI, 111 SB

Another Chicagoan! Weinstock's first pick to sign, Martini was actually a guy I had scouted, but I stayed away due to his lack of power and limited upside. His best role is likely as a pinch runner, but the athletic Martini can fill in at second, short, left, and right as well. A light hitter who likely won't ever secure a starting role, Martini is a ground ball hitter who may end up with more infield then outfield singles, although he did show a tendency to triple in college. I won't cut him, he'll have a chance to fill in down in La Crosse, but this probably will be the last time you see Martini's name.

15th Round, 232nd Overall: LHP Otis Martin
School: Washington
1939: 6-5, 109 IP, 3.80 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 67 BB, 65 K
Career: 29-12, 424 IP, 2.97 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 187 BB, 324 K

If he wasn't the only pitcher Tom drafted that signed, I might have cut the New Yorker Otis Martin on the spot. He somehow managed to have an ERA closer to 4 then 3 in high school, where some guys are able to put together seasons below 1.25. He also walked more guys then he struck out as a senior, is a flyball pitcher, and his future lies strictly in the bullpen. But, since I don't have too many young arms, the 6'4'' Martin will likely get a chance to eat an inning or two out of the pen. He does throw a high 80s fastball, but he has below average stuff, control, and movement. He may have one less letter in his last name then Ernie, but I doubt you'll see his name again either.

16th Round, 248th Overall: 2B Vince Conforti
School: Jackson
Commit School: University of New Jersey
1939: .526/.552/.746, 125 PA, 14 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 33 RBI, SB
Career: .517/.552/.732, 474 PA, 55 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 122 RBI, 8 SB

Starting an unintentional run of three impossible draftees, the tiny second basemen Vince Conforti could be worth convincing to join us. Weinstock isn't the biggest fan, but OSA thinks he could hit .330 and force his way into the lineup. He should be a decent second basemen as well, I think that might be his only position. But considering Conforti managed to hit .500 in all four of his seasons, even if twice it was just .500, there has to be some sort of talent there. I'm giving him $25,000, more then Skipper, Goff, Hufford, Harris, and Petty combined, but I'm not sure he'd accept the offer. If he doesn't sign, I think the New Yorker would be an interesting Regional Round signing, but Conforti, who always puts the ball in play, will likely not fall to the AI portion again.

17th Round, 264th Overall: SS Dave Gilbert
School: Lick-Wilmerding
Commit School: Texas Panhandle
1939: .383/.451/.486, 124 PA, 11 2B, 26 RBI, 6 SB
Career: .404/.475/.558, 367 PA, 33 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 72 RBI, 26 SB

Sometimes a player has an "Impossible" signing because they are really talented, other times it's because they're an interesting high school, but not quite good enough to be a first round pick, and other times it's just because the game needed a certain amount of impossible singings for the pool. I'll wager the latter when it comes to Gilbert. Hitting below .400 in high school is basically like having an ERA above 3, and Gilbert barely hit .400 for his career. Not only that, Tom gives a very thorough report of Gilbert; "Originally chosen 264th by the Chicago Cougars in 1939, Dave Gilbert is a 6-foot-0, 165-pound shortstop. Gilbert doesn't have the bat or glove to make it to the majors." Yeah, he's going to college...

18th Round, 280th Overall: CF Hack Mills
School: Portland Christian
Commit School: Eastern Oklahoma
1939: .457/.548/.724, 119 PA, 13 2B, 5 3B, HR, 28 RBI, 32 SB
Career: .436/.528/.735, 344 PA, 13 2B, 13 3B, 7 HR, 76 RBI, 98 SB

Hack did look best as a senior, his highest average and OBP, but his slugging was actually the lowest. He hit four homers as a sophomore and two as a junior, but just one as a senior. He has good speed and isn't a bad defender, but he's likely to end up in a corner. He has a good eye and upper level minor league hitting tools, but I think college should help him potentially turn into a better prospect.

19th Round, 296th Overall: C Hugh Elasser
School: Yonkers
1939: .407/.440/.602, 119 PA, 12 2B, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 5 SB
Career: .442/.466/.617, 502 PA, 59 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 120 RBI, 15 SB

Our first catcher! It was a tale of two careers for Elasser, who looked like a much different player his first two years as opposed to his second. Elasser hit .407 the past two seasons after hitting ,482 and .473, with OPS' of 1.171 and 1.126. The only good thing about his senior year was he hit a majority of his home runs, but he was still far less valuable as a senior. Not much love in the reports from him, declaring him to be fully "entrenched in bad habits at the plate" and doesn't credit his defense. But, at 18, he has a lot of room to grow, and you can never have too many extra catchers on hand. I have Skidmore and Rollins down in La Crosse currently, but with no obvious third catcher, he could get a little bit of time.

20th Round, 312th Overall: 2B Gordon Miller
School: Burlington
Commit School: Coastal State
1939: .427/.457/.598, 128 PA, 13 2B, 2 3B, HR, 32 RBI, 17 SB
Career: .438/.493/.619, 461 PA, 44 2B, 7 3B, 5 HR, 112 RBI, 62 SB

The last of the impossibles! A four year starter from Burlington, Miller turned into a doubles machine, 27 in his past two seasons. Unfortunately for Miller, but fortunate for Coastal State, he's not the most exciting prospect and I don't plan on making him a Cougar. He has good speed and is a defensive asset at second, but his bat isn't all that exciting. College should do him well, as he really wouldn't have a spot with us.

21st Round, 328th Overall: C Harry Dean
School: Eastern State
1939: .255/.354/.325, 316 PA, 11 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 35 RBI, 6 SB
Career: .260/.359/.336, 768 PA, 27 2B, 3B, 7 HR, 95 RBI, 13 SB

A new catcher named Harry, I doubt Dean will ever match Mead in talent or production, but he'll compete with Elasser for the scraps when Skidmore is on the bench. A tall, 6'3'' switch hitter, the 21-year-old in the 21st Round will start out in La Crosse, but I imagine he could back up in San Jose as well. Dean didn't have much success at the plate, but he has a good eye and potential upper level minor league talent. Especially at catcher, youngsters can develop into much better, and you can never have too many backup catchers.

22nd Round, 344th Overall: 1B Clem Coyle
School: Overbrook
1939: .404/.457/.561, 129 PA, 15 2B, HR, 27 RBI, 8 SB
Career: .404/.480/.648, 461 PA, 62 2B, 3B, 10 HR, 102 RBI, 19 SB

A no bat first basemen with absolutely no power? Count me in! Even better, he's a moody kid who lets the losses stick with him, so you can imagine why I cut him before he made a pro plate appearance.

23rd Round, 360th Overall: 2B Grover Taylor
School: Shenandoah Valley State
1939: .267/.353/.435, 12 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 48 RBI, 37 SB
Career (HS): 407/.500/.709, 232 PA, 27 2B, 9 3B, 4 HR, 46 RBI, 34 SB
Career (COL): .268/.355/.437, 747 PA, 29 2B, 14 3B, 18 HR, 110 RBI, 101 SB

I doubt any readers remember his name, but I sure do! Originally our 14th Round selection in 1936, I let him go to college instead of signing him, but it didn't quite work out for Taylor. He wasn't too great in college, but he did show a decent amount of pop, something that could develop into more. He has decent speed, but is a rather inpatient hitter who's hacking tendency will lead to lower averages and more strikeouts. I can't see him lasting too long, but he'll hang around for a bit as a somewhat useful bench piece.

24th Round, 376th Overall: 1B Buck Adams
School: Bayou State College
1939: .272/.329/.382, 251 PA, 10 2B, 5 HR, 41 RBI, 11 SB
Career: .274/.352/.394, 794 PA, 28 2B, 3B, 18 HR, 129 RBI, 26 SB

A first basemen with power, Buck Adams will actually get to stick around. A three year starter at Bayou State, he could probably fill in with San Jose as well, but he'll hang out in La Crosse to start. Tom doesn't think he has the bat or glove to make the big leagues, and I tend to agree with him. Right now he's just a filler piece, and considering how rarely 24th Rounders make the big leagues, I imagine we'll both be right when it is all said and done.

25th Round, 392nd Overall: CF Charlie Wells
School: Riverdale
1939: .421/.467/.579, 120 PA, 10 2B, 2 3B, HR, 25 RBI, 13 SB
Career: .411/.474/.634, 336 PA, 30 2B, 8 3B, 6 HR, 76 RBI, 45 SB

If he wasn't from Chicago, Wells would be joining Coyle in the free agent pool. Wells had a really weird career, as his average increased each season, while his OBP dropped and his slugging bounced up then back down. 4 homers in 1938 basically made that his best season, but his three years at Riverdale weren't very impressive. At 18, however, he has a lot of room to grow, but OSA and Weinstock only talk about how bad his tools are, not how good they could be. I expect nothing from Wells, but it would be a cool storyline if the local 25th Rounder goes from back of the roster scrub to World Series winner!

I have 49 of 50 roster spots filled at La Crosse at the moment, and a FA offer on a pitcher, but I will eventually have to knock it down to 35. A lot of these guys will likely end up cut this year or next, but you never know who could potentially emerge from this group. Milt Fritz himself was a 12th Rounder, and there have been a decent amount of talented players who were passed on in the first 10 rounds. That being said, Ramsey could develop into a decent starter and I'm a big fan of the Chicagoans Carson and Martini, but chances are most of these guys will not be mentioned much again.

ayaghmour2 · 10-29-2021, 04:24 PM

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 33-33 (5th, 6 GB)
Stars of the Week
Rich Langton : 22 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .409 AVG, 1.116 OPS
Mike Taylor : 23 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .348 AVG, .878 OPS
John Lawson : 28 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .286 AVG, .891 OPS

Schedule
6-26: Win vs Kings (1-5)
6-27: Loss vs Cannons (5-4)
6-28: Win vs Cannons (3-7)
6-29: Win vs Cannons (1-5)
6-30: Loss vs Stars (11-8)
7-1: Loss vs Stars (4-3)
7-2: Loss vs Stars (4-0)

Recap
Everything was looking great until the Stars series. We swept the Kings, took two of three from the Cannons, before we let the Stars walk all over us. Our homestand ended in a sweep, and not the good time, while finished of in a 4-0 shutout. Not the welcome I planned for Lonardo, as we dropped to six games out of first and we have absolutely no one to blame but ourselves, because the Stars now lead the league. They're trying to pull off a first to worst, tied at 39-27 with the Foresters. Lucky for us, we'll have an off day to recuperate before heading back on the road. Our system has taken a little hit with the Jordan trade, but a few new draftees joined the system. Skipper and Goff haven't yet signed, but the Lou Eaker pick looks good, as he checks in at 9th in our system and 137th in the league. Joining him are Tommy Davis (185th) and Bill Dambreville (241st) who rank 14th and 15th. Most of our other guys signed, including Art Ramsey, who actually agreed to the $15,000 bonus, and Vince Conforti, who agreed to the $25,000. Neither crack the top 500, but I'm okay with that.

Harry Parker finally gave up a run, and it was just one, tossing a 3-hit and 2-walk complete game with a single strikeout to improve to 6-5 and lower his ERA to 3.58 (117 ERA+). In his last three starts, he has three complete games, 13 hits, 8 walks, and 6 strikeouts with just the lone run today. Dick Lyons continued to ageless run, a pair of 8 inning starts with 11 hits, 3 runs, 5 walks, and 7 strikeouts split between. Our other two start starter, Milt Fritz, did okay, a win and a loss in a pair of complete games. He was charged with 17 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 6 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Of course, Peter the Heater can't have two good starts in a row, and our new stopper allowed 9 hits, 10 runs (9 earned), and 9 walks with 8 strikeouts in an out less then a complete game. But, to make things a little better, with Lonardo on the roster, I can compare his potential to others, and while he is above everyone else, Papenfus still has higher potential then the 4-time Allen Winner. Cy Sullivan wasn't great, but good enough to keep his start for the week, 6 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), and 7 walks in a complete game loss. Pug Bryan will now start games in Milwaukee after the Lonardo trade, hopefully regaining some of his old form.

Rich Langton continued to turn things around, 9-for-22 with a double, two triples, five runs, a steal, and an RBI. He gave up one start to Orlin Yates, who was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. John Lawson added two more homers, 8-for-28 with a double, 3 walks, 5 RBIs, and 6 runs. Mike Taylor was 8-for-23 with 8 RBIs and a homer. Ray Ford was 8-for-25 in his first week back, adding a triple, RBI, 3 runs, 4 walks, and a very rare steal. Freddie Jones rose his average a bit, 9-for-25 with 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 4 runs scored.

Looking Ahead
After the needed off day, we'll welcome Toronto in town for three. Last year, the Wolves finished second and seemed likely to place in the top division again, but they are worse off then us, 31-35, and 8 games back without a Jim Lonardo addition yet. Of course, they have a Joe Hancock instead, 9-5 with a 2.39 ERA (183 ERA+), 1.07 WHIP, 36 walks, and 62 strikeouts on pace for a 300 inning season. An old favorite of mine, Bernie Johnson, is having a breakout year, 4-7, but with a 3.50 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 30 walks, and 26 strikeouts in 13 effective starts. Bob Walls isn't undefeated, but 6-6 with a 3.49 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 32 walks, and 14 strikeouts in 100.2 innings pitched. Even George Garrison seems to have righted the ship, 4-6 with a 4.01 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.43 WHIP, 36 walks, and 41 strikeouts in 103.1 innings pitched. Then there's also reigning Whitney Winner Fred McCormick, who is ripping the cover off the ball to the tune of .367/.476/.646 (182 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 7 steals, 10 homers, and 47 RBIs, while walking (51) far more frequently then he strikes out (18). But other then him, just former Cougar draftee Reginald Westfall has an above average OPS+ in the lineup. He's hitting right behind McCormick and batting .311/.397/.457 (116 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 4 homers, 34 RBIs, 22 walks, and 5 strikeouts in 174 trips to the plate. Nick Wallace isn't doing terrible by any means, but his .310/.350/.427 (96 OPS+) line isn't as great as last year, and his 12 doubles, triple, 5 homers, and 33 RBIs leave a little more to be desired. After getting swept by the Stars at home, I've lost a lot of confidence in the team, so the best way for them to earn my favor back would be a positive series here.

That's it for the road, as we return back home to host the 39-27 and tied for first place Cleveland Foresters. Lou Martino has broken out at 32, 4-1 with a 2.29 ERA (191 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 35 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 78.2 innings pitched. It has made up for the struggles of former Cougars Dean Astle and Dave Rankin, both with ERAs above 5. Astle's struggles have been very surprising, as the normally reliable ace is 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.62 WHIP, 37 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 114 innings pitched. Rankin is a similar 5-8 with a 5.28 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 39 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 107.1 innings of his own. Considering their top two are having awful seasons and they still are 12 games over .500, the Foresters are definitely a team to take seriously. Mel Carrol has been a big help for that, slashing .382/.420/.524 (138 OPS+) with 19 doubles, a triple, 6 homers, and 45 RBIs. Bill Moore has been arguably better, just in far less time, hitting .391/.456/.600 (166 OPS+) with 13 doubles, at triple, 3 homers, and 29 RBIs, although he has just 136 PAs compared to Carrol's 293. The rest of the lineup hasn't been all that great, with the only other above average hitter being Roy Bradley. The former Eagle is hitting just .311/.341/.465 (105 OPS+), but with 19 doubles, 5 triples, 5 homers, 3 steals, and 32 RBIs in an even 300 trips to the plate. This will be a very tough series, but if we can bounce back with a good win, we can really turn things around quick. We'll get Lonardo in both series, and I'm ready to see how he likes his new home.

Minor League Report
LF Billy Jordan Jr. (B San Jose Cougars): After toiling around in La Crosse for a bit, Billy Jordan Jr. finally got a promotion to San Jose, and he's really made it count. In his first month up, he took home Player of the Month, batting .432 with 4 homers, 25 RBIs, and 16 runs scored. Pair that with a week or so in May, he's hitting .439/.477/.653 (191 OPS+) with 9 doubles and 27 RBIs to go with his June homers. A huge breakout for the 22-year-old, Jordan Jr. actually went up a big in the prospect rankings despite all the new additions, now 33rd and 393rd in our system. Weinstock expects him to be an elite hitter, but I don't think we'll be able to find a position that Billy can field all that well. He has a loose and quick stroke that works inside the ball, but I'm not too sure that's enough for him to secure a big league spot. This year his power has started to show a little, 7 homers this season, more then his six last season while he failed to hit one in 1937 after just two in 1936. The hometown kid profiles just as an off the bench pinch hitter, but I have a guy like that in the big leagues in Tommy Sandstrom, and a .258/.343/.548 (132 OPS+) batting line is pretty nice.

LHP Ralph Kendall (B San Jose Cougars): We swept the monthly awards in the C-O-W League, as starter turned reliever Ralph Kendall managed to earn the award. He was 5-2 with a 2.01 ERA, 5 saves, and 29 strikeouts in 31.1 innings pitched out of the pen. For the season, the 21-year-old southpaw has been elite in 56.1 innings pitched, 8-2 with 7 saves, a 1.60 ERA (313 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 21 walks, and 49 strikeouts. Our 5th Rounder in 1935, Kendall was a full time starter in '36, half time in '37, but he's only pitched out of the pen the past two seasons. He's looked really good, and while relief prospects aren't always the most important, seeing how our pen has had it's struggles, it doesn't hurt to have a young guy good at getting the last few outs in a game. He could move back to the rotation if needed, but I do like him much more as a pen arm. His sinker rolls up a ton of grounders, and sits comfortably in the 91-93 range, a little harder then he was throwing last year. It's a reliable pitch, but the splitter is actually the better offering. His stuff is pretty good, but he does run into issues with command. As a starter, he was prone to high pitch counts, but that has not been an issue for him out of the pen. He's definitely ready for a promotion, but for now I'm going to keep him with the Cougars.

CF Edmund Mann (B San Jose Cougars): Last week, 18-year-old Edmund Mann was waiting for his name to be called in the draft. This week, he was named Player of the Week in the C-O-W league! He was sensational, 13-for-30 with 3 doubles, 5 runs, and 6 RBIs. That leads to a .433/.452/.533 (155 OPS+) line, and sure it's just 54 innings, but a 1.063 efficiency is a lot nice then a .963 one. The switch hitter appears to be very well developed for his young age, and while I don't expect him to keep up this strong trend, but if he keeps hitting like this, I could seen him making the jump to Lincoln by the end of the year. He has the green arrow currently, but I'm not sure if I have room up there for him. His floor is as a fourth outfielder, but if he can fix his focus problems, he could develop into a very exciting regular.

RF Max Rucker (C La Crosse Lions): Another Player of the Week for Max Rucker, and it's time for him to start winning those up in San Jose instead. This week he hit .481 with a homer, 4 runs, and 10 RBIs, boosting his batting line up to .355/.405/.573 (130 OPS+) for the season. Not only that, he added 11 doubles, 2 triples, and 13 homers with 10 steals and 62 RBIs. Our 7th Rounder last season, Rucker got 138 games with the Lions, batting .343/.397/.511 (124 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 4 triples, 19 homers, 12 steals, and 99 RBIs. Rucker ranks right inside the top 500, 44th in the system and 488th in the league. He's an adequate defender with decent hands in the outfield, potentially ending up at any of the three outfield positions. He has a good wing as well, and while maybe not a .300 hitter, he may be able to hit it a few times in a potentially decent sized FABL career. I'm hoping he won't have a big shock with the tougher competition, but he's overachieved thus far and I hope it doesn't stop any time soon.

ayaghmour2 · 11-01-2021, 02:36 PM

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 36-36 (5th, 6.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Rich Langton : 23 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .391 AVG, 1.047 OPS
John Lawson : 26 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .346 AVG, .969 OPS
Billy Hunter : 22 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .364 AVG, .990 OPS

Schedule
7-4: Win at Wolves (8-7): 10 innings
7-5: Loss at Wolves (5-7)
7-6: Win at Wolves (5-1)
7-7: Loss vs Foresters (0-9)
7-8: Loss vs Foresters (7-1)
7-9: Win vs Foresters (4-5): 16 innings

Recap
Sure, it wasn't a sub .500 week, but I am getting tired of winning just three games a week. It was nice we took two of three from the Wolves, but then the Foresters took two of three from us. To make things worse, two of the wins came in extras, so it was just luck. We dropped another half game in the standings, and we really need to start turning things around. I'm not sure why we are underperforming so heavily, but if we don't turn things around soon, we may be waiting another season for a chance at a pennant. I did also make a minor trade, picking up Washington's 4th Rounder next season for Dan Everett. I'm a big fan of Everett, who we acquired from the Foresters, but he had a 40-man spot and I can't really see him surpassing Cy, Pete, or Parker in the future, and he's not better then them now, despite how the first two have been pitching. He ranks 153rd in the league, and he'll enter the Eagles rotation. We also had all the prospects I plan on signing signed, and we added three top 100 prospects. Skipper Schneider ranks 55th, Danny Goff Jr. 80th, and Bunny Hufford 86th. More fill out the top 250, including Lou Eaker (152nd) and Bill Dambreville (242nd). Our system now ranks 9th with 91 points, but we are just seven shy of the 7th ranked system.

Jim Lonardo made two starts in his first week with the Cougars, but he did not get a single decision. We won both of his starts, the first 8.1 innings and the second nine in a 16 inning game. He allowed 22 hits, 11 runs (8 earned), and 8 walks with 7 strikeouts, not the greatest by any means, but you can't throw a gem every game. Well, unless your Dick Lyons, who allowed 9 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts in 8.1 innings to improve to 7-5. Cy Sullivan was roughed up again, 12 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and a strikeout in 7.1 rough innings. With a double header on Tuesday, he'll keep his starting spot as we'll need a sixth starter, and that will be Pete Papenfus. He looked good in the pen, picking up a win with 4.2 innings, 3hits, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts in two appearances. Harry Parker also had a tough start, 11 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts in 8 innings pitched. It wasn't as bad as Milt Frtiz, who allowed 7 hits and 7 runs with 6 walks in just 2.2 innings pitched. We did get good pen innings from Allen Purvis, 4.2 scoreless innings with 6 hits and 2 walks. We'll need a much better pitching week this week, as only the ageless wonder Dick Lyons managed to have any success.

We didn't hit much either, but Rich Langton continued to try to turn things around. He was 9-for-23 with 4 doubles, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 5 RBIs. Billy Hunter looked good too, 8-for-22 with 2 triples, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, and 4 walks. John Lawson was 9-for-26 with a double, homer, 3 RBIs, 5 runs, and 6 walks. No one else really did anything, but the generally reliable Leo Mitchell and Freddie Jones really struggled. They combined to go just 10-for-49 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, and 7 walks with 14 strikeouts. The catching duo also had a rough week, 4-for-25 with a double, 2 walks, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. I guess the consolation about the week was that even though we hit and pitched rather poor, we still managed to win half our games.

Looking Ahead
We get another series with Toronto, just this time at home and with three games in two days. At 32-39, the Wolves are in second to last, far different then the second place finish from last year. The pitching has been great, especially Joe Hancock, who we beat and dropped to 9-6. He has a 2.56 ERA (170 ERA+), 1.06 WHIP, 37 walks, and 65 strikeouts in 140.2 innings pitched. They added Art Blake to the rotation recently, but he was much better in the pen then as a starter. Now 2-1, he has a 4.47 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.63 WHIP, 29 walks, and 17 strikeouts, with a 4.82 ERA as a starter and 4 or more runs in each of the last four starts. Offensively, they've been let down by Nick Wallace, who after a breakout last year, is hitting just .306/.347/.415 (93 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 5 homers, and 33 RBIs. Same goes for Larry Vestal, who's hitting a poor .242/.317/.367 (73 OPS+) with7 doubles, 11 triples, a homer, steal, and 25 RBIs. Of course, there is also Fred McCormick, and is .368/.471/.663 (185 OPS+) line is nothing to sneeze at. Add in 23 doubles, 7 triples, 13 homers, 7 steals, 52 walks, and 54 RBIs, and you could be getting a back-to-back Whitney Winner. I refuse to underestimate the Wolves, and expect them to steal at least a game if not two from us.

We hit the road for three with the Sailors, who are two and a half games behind the Stars. Doc Newell has had a really rough season for the Sailors, 8-5 with a 4.70 ERA (93 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 46 walks, and 32 strikeouts in 128.1 innings pitched. Walt Wells has been even worse, 5-6 with a 5.40 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.58 WHIP, 42 walks, and 29 strikeouts. These are two generally reliable arms and it is only a matter of time before they start to turn things around. Early season acquisition Dutch Sheldon has made up for it, as has Herb Flynn. Sheldon is 5-5 with a 3.46 ERA (126 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 54 walks, and 46 strikeouts in 101.1 effective innings while Flynn is 5-6 with a 3.68 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 45 walks, and 30 strikeouts in 93 of his own. We'll miss Flynn, but are likely to see Sheldon. At the plate, Bob Smith has been outstanding, boasting a 30-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio with a .343/.435/.506 (138 OPS+) batting line. Add in 8 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, and 46 RBIs, and you have a really strong season. Joe Watson has arguably been better, slashing .352/.420/.546 (143 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 10 triples, 6 homers, and 47 RBIs. This will be a tough road series, and I really hope we can turn things around.

We finish the week with two in Cleveland before the All Star break. 41-30 and a game behind New York, Rube McCormick has looked good in his three starts since joining the rotation. He's 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA (210 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, 8 walks, and 4 strikeouts, but it's not enough to make up for the struggling Astle and Rankin. We're lucky they both have ERAs above 5, or Cleveland might be running away with things. Lou Martino, however, has been really good, 4-1 with a 2.24 ERA (195 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 35 walks, and 19 strikeouts, but in just 80.1 innings pitched. At the plate, Bill Moore is challenging for a batting title, slashing a robust .377/.444/.569 (155 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 3 homers, and 32 RBIs with 17 walks and 3 strikeouts. Mel Carrol has looked good in his first full year with Cleveland, owning a .383/.422/.537 (141 OPS+) line with 20 doubles, 8 homers, and 48 RBIs. Keeping those two bats in line will be tough, and guys like Roy Bradley, Ken Vance, and Dan Fowler are all hitting fine, just not quite at their usual levels. The craziest thing, however, is George Dawson, who owns just a 1.2 zone rating and 1.016 efficiency, way lower then his 1.094 career mark. To make matters worse, he's hitting just .286/.333/.352 (74 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 3 triples, a homer, 8 steals, and 30 RBIs. A very shocking season indeed, but perhaps that makes Dawson a little easier to trade for if I decide to go that route.

Minor League Report
3B Jocko Pollard (A Lincoln Legislators): A pair of minor injuries have kept Pollard off the field a bit this season, but when he's been on it, there really haven't been many better. Defensively, he's a terrible third basemen, but that bat! In just 177 trips to the plate, Pollard has 15 homers and 52 RBIs with a dazzling .358/.407/.704 (171 OPS+) batting line. He does strike out (39) far more then he walks (12), but the power is really exciting. He hit 25 out of the park in San Jose last season, 10 or more each season since 1936, and is on track to reach 30 if he can stay healthy. Along with the power, he has a smooth swing with quick hands, and his contact skills seem to be above average. My scout likes his eye and pitch recognition skills, and I think he should be a decent defender at first base even if he can't really field third. Pollard does rank in our top 30 prospect list, checking in at 26 and 291st in the league, and I think he has the tools to be a decent big league starter. I can't see him surpassing Ray Ford any time soon, but having a big bat with power off the bench can be very helpful.

C Solly Skidmore (C La Crosse Lions): He has a positional rating at catcher! Recently turned 19, Solly Skidmore ranks just outside the top 20 prospect list, second in our system and 23rd overall. Skidmore is the main catcher down in La Crosse, and he's been very effective with the bat. Solly is hitting .325/.389/.519 (113 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 11 homers, and 47 RBIs. I don't want to rush the youngster, and I expect him to spend the rest of the season with the Lions, especially because a pair of our somewhat decent backstop prospects (Charlie Hawkins and Walter Loera) are hanging out in San Jose, and I'm not quite ready to cut their playing time yet. There is also a two catcher system in Lincoln, and I don't want to take any at bats from Steve Mountain in Mobile. Of course, no one in our system has the upside behind the plate that Skidmore does, including Mead and Taylor. I'm not quite sold on his defense, but I'm hoping with his bat he can be at least average. He has great discipline, generates excellent bat speed, and he squares up the ball consistently. He's an advanced hitter for his age, and the strong 6'2'' teenager is gifted with top notch athleticism. Good catchers are hard to come by, and Skidmore has the potential to be one of the best in the game. It just may take him a few years to reach that level, but I know it will be worth the wait.

ayaghmour2 · 11-02-2021, 03:59 PM

Weekly Record: 4-4
Seasonal Record: 40-40 (5th, 5.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Ray Ford : 33 AB, 15 H, 1 HR, 13 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.199 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 36 AB, 13 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .361 AVG, .806 OPS
Billy Hunter : 24 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .333 AVG, .851 OPS

Schedule
7-10: Win vs Wolves (1-6)
7-11: Win vs Wolves (0-5)
7-11: Loss vs Wolves (10-9): 12 innings
7-12: Win at Sailors (12-1)
7-13: Loss at Sailors (2-4)
7-14: Win at Sailors (9-7)
7-15: Loss at Foresters (2-5)
7-16: Loss at Foresters (3-7)

Recap
I'm getting really tired of these .500 weeks... I'm not saying I'd rather go 0-8 instead of 4-4, but sitting at .500 is no fun when you feel like your team is a better then .500 team. This week was tough, eight games in seven days, all but three on the road, and I really pushed my pitchers. I used Lonardo and Lyons on short rest, but we still needed to use six starters because the double header was early in the week. To make things worse, we lost the Wolves sweep with a one run extra inning loss, which killed our bullpen early on. In worse news, three of our draftees got hurt this week, two being top prospects (Skipper and Hufford) while 4th Rounder Tommy Davis tore his labrum and will miss almost a calendar year. Last sim he ranked inside the top 200, now he's a little out of it, and I imagine he'll continue to drop. The All Star rosters were also announced, and four players will be representing the Cougars. No starters, but the game will see Dick Lyons (2nd), Freddie Jones (5th), John Lawson (6th), and Leo Mitchell (1st).

Ray Ford took home Player of the Week, a nice 15-for-33 with a homer, 8 runs, and 13 RBIs. This increased his season line to .310/.375/.490 (128 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 4 triples, 8 homers, and 51 RBIs. He didn't have much help this week, but Freddie Jones did end the first half with a nice showing. Not quite his season level, but 7-for-25 with a double, triple, homer, 5 runs, and 5 RBIs. Leo Mitchell may have struck out 12 times, but he was 13-for-36 with 3 doubles, 7 runs, and 2 RBIs without a single walk. Mitchell was named to his first All Star game, but while he has struck out a bit in the future, he's already struck out 64 times, approaching his 1937 (66) and 1938 (75) marks in far fewer trips to the plate. I'm not overly concerned, he's still hitting .340/.382/.454 (121 OPS+) on the season, but I really hope this is his last double digit strikeout week, even if it was in another 8 game week. Billy Hunter was fine, 8-for-24 with 3 doubles, 3 walks, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. Orlin Yates looked good in limited time, 3-for-7 with a triple, run, steal, and 3 RBIs. Our catchers, however, showed fatigue, 4-for-27. Taylor at least showed some production, a double, 4 runs, 4 RBIs, and 5 walks in his 5 starts.

As mentioned, Lyons made two starts, and his first one was near perfect. Just three hits, a walk, and a strikeout in a 5-0 complete game win over the Wolves. His second start wasn't nearly as great, 10 hits, 5 runs, a walk, and a strikeout in 7.2 innings pitched. The 39-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, 8-6 with a 2.94 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.15 WHIP, 21 walks, and 36 strikeouts in 125.1 innings pitched. He's also one of four pitchers and three Cougars (Papenfus and Parker) to lead the CA with two shutouts, he's tied with Bill Ross for BB/9, and ranks second in rWAR and WHIP. Lonardo was similar, one great start and one poor start. His first was against Philly, 9 hits, a run, walk, and strikeout in a complete game win. The second was 7.2 against Cleveland with 11 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Lonardo has been average in his four starts since the trade, 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA (99 ERA+), 1.53 WHIP, 10 walks, and 10 strikeouts. Not great by any means, but it may take him a little to regain his form. Harry Parker has started to heat up, and the CA BABIP leader was a run away from his third shutout, just 6 hits, a walk, and 2 strikeouts in our 6-1 win over the Wolves. Unearned runs cost us the 4-2 game against the Sailors, 6 hits, 3 walks, 4 unearned runs, and a strikeout in 8 innings. Cy and Pete had rough starts, and with only four games next week, neither will get a start. They combined for just 13 innings with 21 hits, 13 runs (9 earned), 10 walks, and 10 strikeouts. All 10 strikeouts were Papenfus', whose 75 lead the CA.

Looking Ahead
Three much needed days off, as hopefully we can have a better then .500 half. If feel like we should be better, and the numbers tend to agree. Sure, our Pythagorean is 42-38, but that's barely a boost over our record. The real issue is the fact that we are an abysmal 6-11 in one run games. We have also had struggles on the road, just 18-23 (.429) away from our beautiful new stadium. I'm hoping to bring in a few more fans, but we still are third in attendance despite our lackluster showing. We do have some things going, leading our league in slugging, OPS, wOBA, extra base, and home runs. Unfortunately, we've had a lot of bad starts out of our youngsters, and while I don't want to add another starter, I may have to before the quickly approaching deadline.

We get to start the second half in New York, a game on Thursday and Saturday with the Stars. At 44-33, they are tied with the Foresters for first place. This will be a tough series for us, as we may have to face the newly acquired William Jones. Moved last July as well, but from the Sailors to the Dynamos, the unlucky 35-year-old will anchor the Stars rotation. He was 3-10 with a 3.56 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.40 WHIP, 32 walks, and 38 strikeouts in 129 innings pitched. Jones joins the wild but deadly George Phillips, who is 10-4 with a 4.43 ERA (96 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 74 walks, and 72 strikeouts in his 20 starts. Billy Riley is having a nice season at 25, 9-8 with a 4.09 ERA (104 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 48 walks, and 57 strikeouts. The ageless Dave Trowbridge will represent the Stars in the All Star Game, after hitting .363/.435/.508 (144 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 7 homers, and 51 RBIs in another excellent year. He'll be accompanied by new star of the Stars Moxie Pidgeon. who has 13 homers and 53 RBIs to go with his .312/.368/.466 (115 OPS+) line. Ray Cochran also got a much deserved selection, as the nifty leadoff man is slashing .306/.392/.498 (130 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 14 triples, 4 homers, 6 steals, and 30 RBIs while walking (44) more then three times as often as he strikes out (13). 19-year-old Bill Barrett will make his first of many All Star trips as well, batting .283/.389/.498 (129 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, and 46 RBIs. No rest for the wicked here, as we have to take on one of the best teams in our league right off the bat.

We finish the week with a double header in Brooklyn. The reigning pennant winners are a game behind us, 37-39, in a much different Kings team. They are now without Mike Murphy, Joe Shaffner, Alf Pestilli, and Frank Vance, while Tom Barrell will miss the rest of the season with a torn rotator cuff. They started their 4th Overall Pick Rats McGonigle in the big leagues, but he'll miss the series with an oblique strain. The Ringer from Stringer looks like a future star, currently ranked 5th in the league, and he was off to a .368/.368/.553 (133 OPS+) start. He had a double, 3 triples, and 8 RBIs in 38 at bats. Al Wheeler is still a King, but hitting just .257/.340/.438 (98 OPS+) with 11 doubles, a triple, 13 homers, and 47 RBIs. Harry Barrell will make his six All Star trip, worth almost 4 WAR with a .307/.364/.427 (102 OPS+) line and 18.3 zone rating. Art White will be there as well, 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA (121 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 33 walks, and 41 strikeouts in 111.1 excellent innings. He'll be joined by his #2 Bob Cummings, as the Chicagoan has made nine starts and relief appearances in 90 excellent innings. He is 9-4 with a 2.70 ERA (160 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, 27 walks, and 46 strikeouts. We might have to face one, but probably not both of them, and I think we can put runs up on Curly Jones and Sergio Vergara. Jones came back to Brooklyn in a deal with Detroit along with an Illinois native Vince D'Alessandro. He's replacing Langille at second, and is off to a .340/.380/.489 (123 OPS+) start to his career in 52 PAs split between the Kings and Dynamos. There are two more with them after the double header, but we need to win one if not both of the double header games.

Minor League Report
2B Hod Seagroves (B San Jose Cougars): After a pair of disappointing season with the Lions, Chicagoan Hod Seagroves was great there this year and even better after a promotion to San Jose. Hod was 12-for-25 with 6 RBIs, pushing his batting line to .360/.420/.532 (148 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, and 26 RBIs with a nice 13-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Seagroves has actually looked much better at second then at first, and I think he could be a strong defensive second basemen. He should develop into a consistent .300 hitter, and his quick bat allows him to catch up to most fastballs. Off-speed pitches are his weakness now, but he's done a good job laying off pitches he shouldn't offer at. Tom thinks he'll be a future regular, and I definitely agree, but he ranks just 22nd in our system and 287th overall. This has been a big breakout season for him at the plate, and it could help him finish the season in Lincoln if he keeps hitting like this.

RF Harry Carr (C La Crosse Lions): It was a big day for the Harry Carr in their 6-1 win over Marshalltown. The former 10th Rounder was a perfect 5-for-5 with a double and RBI. Checking in at 21st in our system and 282nd in the league, Carr is hitting an average .310/.368/.468 (96 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 8 homers, 25 steals, and 31 RBIs in 278 trips to the plate. A natural center fielder, all his time this year has been spent in a corner, 35 games in left and 29 in right with a -0.4 zone rating in each spot. His speed s one of his most valuable assets and I'm hoping it translates to great range in the field. He's great on the bases and can lay down a nice bunt and he makes above average contact at the plate. We don't have many outfielders in the low minors, most are pushing their way up, so Carr can take it slow this season and work on improving his defense before moving on up. He profiles as a bench bat now, but Carr is the inquisitive type and that should help him improve on his trip up to the big leagues.

2B Adolph Jacobson (C La Crosse Lions): I don't really like him, and I was far from thrilled when I was stuck with him in the lottery, but the 19-year-old had a nice week. Despite being absent from the top 500, Jacobson was 11-for-14 with a run and six RBIs. It's been an up and down season for Jacobson, as he's hitting just .303/.371/.436 (90 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 5 triples, a homer, 13 steals, and 39 RBIs. He's been splitting time between first and second, but I think he's more Ray Ford then Ducky Jordan with the glove. The bat isn't all that great either, but he has a nice short swing that hopefully will turn into line drives. Strikeouts may be a problem for him, and if he puts the ball in play more often, he could develop into a decent enough hitter. OSA thinks he may force his way into a big league lineup, but there are a lot of guys I want to give at bats to before Jacobson. Still, he's really young and has a lot of time to separate from the back, and with a mix of injuries and promotions, he's going to have consistent enough plate appearances for the near future.

ayaghmour2 · 11-03-2021, 03:22 PM

Weekly Record: 3-1
Seasonal Record: 43-41 (5th, 5.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
John Lawson : 16 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.634 OPS
Rich Langton : 19 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .368 AVG, .935 OPS
Ray Ford : 15 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .400 AVG, .900 OPS

Schedule
7-20: Win at Stars (5-2)
7-22: Loss at Stars (2-7)
7-23: Win at Kings (6-5): 10 innings
7-23: Win at Kings (10-2)

Recap
A good week! Not perfect, of course, we did split the series with the Stars, but, we swept the Kings in the double header and earned at least a split in that series. I'd be angry if we drop the next two to them, but at least one win would be acceptable. We didn't make up any ground on the Foresters, but it feels nice to be over .500, even if it is just two games. The CA also won the All Star game 6-3, with Dick Lyons starting the game. He tossed two scoreless innings, walking Gil London to start the game before retiring the next six in order: Chick Donnelly, Hank Barnett, Bob Donoghue, Lew Seals, George Cleaves, and Billy Dalton. Freddie Jones started at short, and finished the game at second, going 1-for-4 with a run scored. John Lawson hit a sac-fly in his only plate appearance and finished the game at third while Leo Mitchell did not appear in the game,

Lyons, however, struggled in his start against the Stars, allowing 13 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), and 3 walks with just a single strikeout in 5 rough innings. This spiked his ERA and WHIP a bit, but it might have been a little due to the semi short rest. Jim Lonardo finally looked like the Allen Winner I traded for, tossing a complete game win with 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Harry Parker continued to push forward, a complete game win of his own with 13 hits, 2 runs, and 4 strikeouts. Milt Fritz had a similar complete game win, 11 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), and 2 walks in our 10 inning win. Peter the Heater then picked up the save, but he didn't allow a hit, walk, or strikeout. Cy didn't pitch out of the pen, but with the double header, they'll both get a start this week.

John Lawson had an insane week, deserving of Player of the Week in another week (Mel Carrol was even better), going 8-for-16 with a double, triple, 2 homers, 7 RBIs, 4 runs, and 4 walks. Carlos Montes looked good too, 4-for-11 with two doubles, an RBI, walk, and two runs scored. Rich Langton and Ray Ford looked great too, Langton 6-for-19 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, and 2 RBIs while Ford was 6-for-15 with 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and 3 walks. Freddie Jones had a down week, 3-for-17 with a double, 2 runs, 5 walks, and an RBI. Fellow All-Star Leo Mitchell continued to strikeout too much, 5 times this week, while hitting 6-for-20 with 4 runs and 3 RBIs.

Looking Ahead
Two more with the Kings, who we pushed back below .500 to 40-41 after the double header sweep. We'll start with Jack Goff, brother of Cougar farmhand Danny Goff Jr., who is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 16 walks, and 6 strikeouts in his 4 starts. I was hoping to see Stumpy Beaman too, a former Cougar prospect who just made his first start for the Kings. Instead, Sergio Vergara seems likely to take the start, and he hasn't had the best of starts to his career. He is 1-4 with a 5.71 ERA (76 ERA+), 1.73 WHIP, 33 walks, and 21 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched. Just 23, Vergara projects to anchor a rotation and sits inside the top 10 of all FABL prospects, but right now he's not an effective big league starter. Well, he was in his most recent start, a 6-hit shutout against Philly, but I hope he got that out of his system! With Frank Vance now in Detroit, their old starting third basemen, Frank LeMieux, is holding down the hot corner. Just 4 games in Brooklyn, but combined with 73 in Detroit, the 25-year-old is hitting a nice .321/.366/.426 (106 OPS+) with 23 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 33 RBIs with a nice 23-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. My attempts to pry away Al Wheeler were unsuccessful, and he pushed his bating line back above average to .261/.349/.451 (103 OPS+) with 11 doubles, a triple, 15 homers, and 51 RBIs. I want to win both of these games very badly, but as long as we don't drop them both, I'll be happy.

Next stop is Baltimore for three with the 31-53 Cannons. These games have to be treated as must win. Baltimore has made some changes to their rotation, moving from their traditional four man set to a five man. Joining the rotation is former 3rd Rounder Butch Smith, who has made starts in three of his 21 appearances. He's been solid, 3-6 with 3 saves, a 3.88 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.60 WHIP, 36 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched. Rusty Petrick has returned to the rotation as well, but he's really struggled in 75.2 innings pitched across 10 starts and 7 relief outings. He is just 1-7 with a 7.14 ERA (59 ERA+), 1.90 WHIP, 52 walks, and 50 strikeouts. Their All Star Gus Goulding struggled in the game, relieving Dick with an inning and two thirds. He was the only CA pitcher to allow a run, charged with all three along with 4 hits and a walk. He got the win against Toronto, improving to 7-11 with a 3.69 ERA (115 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 46 walks, and 58 strikeouts. They made a lineup change as well, adding former 4th Rounder and top prospect Frank Covarrubias taking over at third. Most of his 34 plate appearances have came off the bench, but he's hitting just .438/.441/.594 (169 OPS+) with a homer, two doubles, and seven RBIs. Another new bat to the lineup is on the other corner, with former 3rd Rounder George Simmons. The 23-year-old is hitting .268/.388/.429 (114 OPS+) with 6 doubles, a homer, 10 RBIs, and 11 walks in 67 trips to the plate. The last new face is out in right, with the Tijuana Cannon Ruben Sanchez leading off. He's been up for a bit more then a month, but is hitting just .192/.214/.269 (26 OPS+) with a triple and 4 RBIs. I do like our chances in this one, but we need to take them seriously if we want to pick up the road sweep.

We then finish our road trip and stretch of games with two games against the Saints before reaching the trade deadline. Still in fourth, the Saints are 43-40, despite their ace Jake DeYoung really falling apart. He's 10-7, but his ERA ballooned to 6.00 (73 ERA+) and his WHIP to 1.54 despite 26 walks and 72 strikeouts. I'm not sure why he's struggling so much, but if we have to face him, I hope he keeps that up. 23-year-old Bill Stewart has looked good in his first 10 starts, a perfect 4-0 with a 4.25 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 25 walks, and 40 strikeouts. The offense is the key to their success, with All Star Adam Mullins in the midst of another great season. He's hitting .330/.432/.465 (128 OPS+) with 21 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, and 62 RBI's with more then five times as many walks (51) as strikeouts (5). They also have a player I'm a big fan of, Red Bond, who made his first trip to the All Star game and hit .336/.424/.508 (136 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 11 homers, and 57 RBIs in 347 trips to the plate. With Dilly Ward out for potentially the rest of the season, they brought up one of their top prospects in Heinie Billings to man center. Now 23, he's hit .323/.384/.492 (122 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 2 steals, and 11 RBIs in his first 74 trips to the plate. Frank Davis has started to hit a rough patch, with his line dropping to .334/.380/.411 (102 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 2 steals, and 43 RBIs. We're going to need a lot of help stopping their offense, and while I know we can win a slugfest in Chicago, things are a little different out in the spacious Parc Cartier.

Minor League Report
RHP Art Saunders (AA Mobile Commodores): Despite just four starts in San Jose last season, former 9th Rounder Art Saunders was elite in Lincoln and excellent in Mobile. He's 4-1 at both starts, with ERAs of 2.41 (217 ERA+) and 3.57 (131 ERA+) with WHIPs of 1.29 and 1.02. He's walked just 14 and struck out 43 in 94 innings split between the two spots. An early round talent, we were able to snag him in the later rounds and then offer him a cool $20k to forgo his college commitment. Now ranked 10th in our system and 132nd overall, Saunders has been slowed by injuries, but it hasn't hurt his stamina. He's thrown four consecutive complete games, five in total with Mobile, and his six was only 8 innings because we lost on the road. A polished four pitch pitcher, the righty has a nice low 90s fastball that he mixes with a sinker, change, and outstanding 12-6 curve. His stuff is still a little raw, but his control is superb and he won't have walk issues. His movement his average as well, and he has all the tools needed to fill a big league rotation. Even better, his teammates love him, his pranks help break the monotony of the minor leagues, and he always knows which joke to tell and when to tell it. We have a lot of young and exciting pitchers, but I think Art will be one of the more successful arms we have left in our farm.

SS Stu Johnson (AA Mobile Commodores): Recently promoted, it seemed Stu Johnson had started to stall a bit in the minors, spending most of his time since 1937 in Lincoln. Now 25, the former 7th Rounder started his season there as well, hitting a decent enough .269/.370/.463 (105 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 9 homers, and 40 RBIs in a single at bat more then 200. After the Ducky Jordan trade, I moved Hal Wood up from Mobile to Milwaukee, so Stu Johnson got the call to replace him. He's been red hot since, slashing .345/.426/.517 (147 OPS+) with 7 doubles, a homer, and 12 RBIs in 68 trips to the plate. A natural shortstop, he's probably best suited for second or third. For one reason or another Weinstock thinks he is a defensive marvel, but I think that's in regards to his play at second instead of short. He's a patient hitter, but sometimes he struggles with making contact. His most important asset might be his leadership, but with enough injuries ahead of him, I can see him forcing his way into a big league lineup.

ayaghmour2 · 11-04-2021, 04:46 PM

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 47-44 (t-3rd, 6.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Carlos Montes : 22 AB, 7 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .318 AVG, 1.239 OPS
Jim Lonardo : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 2 BB, 8 K, 1.00 ERA
Billy Hunter : 25 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .320 AVG, .873 OPS

Schedule
7-24: Loss at Kings (5-6): 11 innings
7-25: Win at Kings (7-1)
7-26: Loss at Cannons (1-3)
7-27: Win at Cannons (4-3): 12 innings
7-28: Win at Cannons (6-0)
7-29: Loss at Saints (4-8)
7-30: Win at Saints (10-5)

Recap
We lost a game to each team this week, and a game in the standings, but we are a slightly more over .500 then we were the week before. We finished our road trip 9-7, a bit better then usual, as our road record is now closer to even at 25-27. The Stars have started to separate from the pack, sweeping the Foresters to increase their divisional lead to three and a half games. The deadline approaches as well, but I'm not sure we're going to see any more action in Chicago. I had a few trade talks yesterday, but no luck putting anything together.

Someone who had a lot of luck was Carlos Montes, who almost doubled his home run total this week. Montes was 7-for-22 with a steal, 4 homers, and 9 RBIs. He still isn't having a great season, but his .250/.303/.440 (95 OPS+) batting line is a bit more respectable. Add in 15 doubles, 3 triples, 9 homers, 5 steals, and a 9.8 zone rating out in center, and you have a pretty reliable center fielder. He didn't have a lot of support in the lineup, but Billy Hunter had himself a nice week as well. He was 8-for-25 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, 6 RBIs, and 5 walks. Rich Langton was 9-for-30 with 2 doubles, a solo homer, and 4 runs scored. Freddie Jones had a solo homer as well, but was just 8-for-28 with 4 doubles, 4 walks, and 6 runs scored. Unfortunately, All Star Leo Mitchell had a dreadful week, 6-for-31 with a double and four runs scored and driven in. Would have loved to hit a lot better this week, but something tells me a little home cooking will do the trick.

Only one pitcher in the Continental Association has three shutouts, and that's because of Harry Parker's outing against the Cannons. Just one strike out and five hits as Parker improved to 9-6 with a 3.25 ERA (129 ERA+) and 1.21 WHIP. His walks are a bit up and his strikeouts over a point down, but the trend has continued, unless you homer off him, you are not going to score off him. Jim Lonardo pitched two impressive complete game wins, allowing only one earned run in each outing. The second did have four unearned runs, but he combined to allow 17 hits and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts. He's been great post-trade, 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 15 walks, and 21 strikeouts in 61 strong innings pitched. Milt Fritz was not as lucky, tagged with 10 hits and 8 runs (7 earned) with 2 walks and a strikeout in 5 shaky innings. Dick Lyons was alright, just 7 innings but with 9 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Pete Papenfus tight roped out of trouble, 9 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 8 walks, and 8 strikeouts in an 8 inning loss. Cy Sullivan got the no decision in the extra inning win, 9 innings with 10 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 6 walks, and 3 strikeouts. The pen only allowed one run, charged to Purvis, in 9.1 innings pitched. They allowed 8 hits and 4 walks with a single strikeout. We have six games next week sandwiched between off days, and I will work with a four man rotation. Lyons and Parker will pitch on four days rest, so Cy and Pete will stay in the pen.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, but we'll use that day to head home to prep for our homestand. We'll face one of the three teams we're tied for third with, the Kings, who have caught fire and jumped up to 46-43. Jack Goff has been stellar in his six starts, 4-1 with a 2.34 ERA (185 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 24 walks, and 13 strikeouts. Bob Cummings has continued to look good, 10-5 with a 3.04 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 36 walks, and 50 strikeouts in 106.2 innings pitched. Stumpy Beaman has generated 11 grounders in each of his three starts, going 2-0 with a 2.59 ERA (167 ERA+), 1.73 WHIP, 18 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Walks have hurt the former Cougar early on, but since we are likely not to face him, I can continue to root for him. We'll miss Harry Barrell, who will spend a month on the DL with an intercostal strain. He was hitting an adjusted league average .307/.364/.420 with 21 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, and 29 RBIs with his general elite shortstop play. They will get Rats McGonigle back, but the loss of Barrell will hurt more. Brooklyn has great pitching, but the offense hasn't looked like a regular Kings offense, ranked 6th in runs scored, average, OBP, slugging, OPS, WAR, and wOBA, so if we can generate some runs, likely via the longball, I like our chances to win this series.

Our next guess will be the Saints, who at 46-44, are half a game behind the clump of third place teams. I'm hoping we'll do better then the split in Montreal, and two of three wins is a must. I tried nabbing star right fielder Red Bond from them, but no luck. Across from him is Bert Lass, who has had a decent .329/.377/.431 (105 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 4 homers, and 37 RBIs in 322 trips to the plate. We hit Bud Robbins hard, who is now 5-7 with a 5.90 ERA (74 ERA+), 1.82 WHIP, 43 walks, and 28 strikeouts in 79.1 innings pitched. Their pen is anchored by a pitcher who came with Robbins in the Reyes trade, "Cougar" Lou Ellertson, who is 1-5 with 12 saves, a 3.04 ERA (143 ERA+), 1.76 WHIP, 35 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 56.1 effective innings. Of course, we also have to deal with Adam Mullins, who is hitting .334/.432/.468 (129 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 5 homers, and 66 RBIs in another great season at the plate. Montreal has done a great job sticking around, but I'm hoping we can push them down enough to separate from the pack.

Minor League Report
LF Bobby Mills (AAA Milwaukee Blues): It was a great week for Bobby Mills, who was 14-for-31 with 4 homers, 8 runs, and 15 RBIs. This was Player of the Week worthy, and improved his season line to .379/.455/.670 (179 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 2 triples, 15 homers, and 73 RBIs. He wasn't nearly as successful in Chicago, going just 6-for-25 with a homer and 5 RBIs. Our 6th Rounder from 1932, Mills has always been known for his bat, and other then a 48 game stint in La Crosse at 19, each minor league trip has seen him post an above average OPS+, even a few well above 150 like he has this season. Mills has shown a plus contact tool and does an excellent job working the count, which should lead to a lot of walks and very few strikeouts. He has no speed and very little defensive value, but despite what he has shown so far, he should be an excellent off the bench bat. I think he's best suited for first base, but we have a lot of more exciting options there, not just Ray Ford, but potentially Leo Mitchell or a vet like Lawson or Jones when their defense becomes too hard to bare. If he was just passable in a corner, he probably would be a big league regular, but his defense has held him back and will continue to limit his value.

RHP Willie Gonzalez Jr. (B San Jose Cougars): A torn rotator cuff cost Willie Gonzalez Jr. a full 10 months, but I liked enough of what I saw before to pick him up from the Gothams. Pre injury he was throwing 90-92, and after work in the offseason and some more last month, the 20-year-old is sitting in the 92-94 range. He started the season in La Crosse, 10 starts where he was very effective, finishing 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 17 walks, and 32 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched. That was good enough to earn a callup, and his four starts couldn't have gone much better. He did walk his share, 10 in 21.2 innings pitched, but he is 2-1 with a sparkly 1.25 ERA (392 ERA+) and 1.20 WHIP with 13 strikeouts. A skinny righty from Milwaukee, he hasn't gotten out of the sixth in San Jose, but he was able to throw complete games down in La Crosse. He leads with a fastball and cutter, but his curve and change should develop into reliable offerings as well. His stuff should be a bit above average, but his control can desert him at times, leading to walks and the occasional home run. I'm thinking serviceable spot starter, but if his curveball turns into the plus pitch OSA is expecting, he could spend a few seasons in a big league rotation. His dad made 11 starts for us and 15 in total, but I'll take the over for junior. He has a long way to go, and ranks just inside the top 500, but if he can stay healthy, we might have a decent arm in four or so seasons.

ayaghmour2 · 11-05-2021, 12:43 PM

Weekly Record: 0-6
Seasonal Record: 47-50 (6th, 7 GB)
Stars of the Week
Ray Ford : 26 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .346 AVG, .923 OPS
John Lawson : 27 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .370 AVG, .852 OPS
Rich Langton : 23 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .348 AVG, .899 OPS

Schedule
8-1: Loss vs Kings (3-2)
8-2: Loss vs Kings (13-8)
8-3: Loss vs Kings (8-3)
6-4: Loss vs Saints (6-3)
8-5: Loss vs Saints (6-4)
8-6: Loss vs Saints (8-6)

Recap
I'm speechless... Lost for words... HOW DO WE GET LET BROOKLYN AND MONTREAL WALK IN AND SEEP US!!!

*Deep Breath*

There is a silver lining... It started with talks about Sam Brown, the Eagles right fielder who I'm a big fan of. We started talks, but they wanted Chubby Hall, and while that was a no go for Brown, it started talks with a bigger deal including Eddie Quinn or Johnnie Jones, that slowly turned into a Hall for Jones trade. I wasn't expecting to make a deal, but after floating a few names to add to Hall. Brown went 12-for-25 with a homer and 7 RBIs, winning Player of the Week in the Fed, and I sent Chubby Hall and Lee Scott to Washington for Jonnie Jones.

I really didn't want to give up Hall, but this was a deal I just could not pass up. I think Hall is going to be a star outfielder, but I feel like I try to trade for Al Wheeler every month or so and with Juan Pomales' bat nearly ready to overtake Rich Langton. Add in that Ray Ford could also move to left if I have to move Lawson to first for Hal Wood, Hall didn't really have the most direct route to the majors. Of course, I've covered Jones in the past, and he's been a prospect I've been following.

It's been a tumultuous career for "The Patron Saint of Groundballs" who was initially selected fourth overall by the Stars in the 1936 draft. Despite being lauded as a future ace by most in the league, his first season he only started in 16 of his 26 appearances followed by 7 of 25 the next season. The Stars had a regime change in the offseason, and Jones was a casualty, sent to the Eagles with two other pitchers for Moxie Pidgeon, Robert Curry, and Mel Hancock Jr., pieces helpful for their pennant chase. The 21-year-old lefty started all 21 of his games this season for AA Atlanta this season, but he was 8-11 with a 5.21 ERA (90 ERA), 1.80 WHIP, 85 walks, and 54 strikeouts. As you might expect, he generates a ton of ground balls, and middle infielders better be ready to turn a double play if he allows a walk or single. An imposing 6'4'', he projects to feature a plus low-to-mid 90s sinker and fastball with a changeup and forkball mixed in. The off-speed pitches aren't ready yet, but the better those become, the more dangerous his stuff will be. He does get plenty of movement on his pitches, and OSA projects him to win Multiple Allen Awards, but I just can't wait until him and "Peter the Heater" sit 1-2 with Harry Parker right behind them. In fact, it was that same 1936 Draft where I drafted Papenfus. Two picks later I got the pitcher I had my eye on, but unfortunately my 21-year-older hasn't faired to well in the majors.

Papenfus has been relegated to a spot starter role with Cy Sullivan, as he is walking way too many hitters to be effective. He's 5-9 with a 5.81 ERA (72 ERA+), 1.73 WHIP, 77 walks and 84 strikeouts in 96 mostly ineffective innings. He does have the second most strikeouts in the league despite the low inning count, and if qualified, his BB/9 would be the worst. His potential is still sky high, but he has not been effective due to his lack of control. Eventually either his stuff is either going to be so good that everyone will strike out or make weak contact, or he masters his control and finally sees more batters with the bases empty.

In an 0-6 week, nearly everyone struggles, and two start starter Harry Parker was really roughed up. He was only charged with a loss once, but allowed 15 hits and 14 runs (11 earned) with a walk and four strikeouts. Dick Lyons faired better, but he still struggled in his two starts. One was a complete game loss, but it was in an unlucky 3-2 loss to the Kings. He allowed 8 hits, 3 runs, and a walk with two strikeouts in a game usually good enough to win. Unfortunately his start against the Saints was much worse, 12 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 2 walks, and a strikeout in 8.1 innings pitched. Even Jim Lonardo struggled, 12 hits, 6 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts in 7 innings pitched. We won't go over Milt Fritz's start, or Dutch Leverett's weak, but there were about as many runs as innings.

Harry Mead did have a comeback week, 5-for-11 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, a walk, and his first big league home run. It only took 109 games, but in the 4th inning on the 3rd, he took the Kings' Jack Goff deep to give us a 3-0 lead we eventually blew. Carlos Montes stayed hot, 5-for-20 with a double, triple, homer, 3 RBIs, 4 runs, and 4 walks. John Lawson kept his average up, 10-for-27 with a homer and 5 RBIs. Ray Ford was 9-for-26 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 7 RBIs. Leo Mitchell was 9-for-26 with a double, triple, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs scored. Unfortunately Freddie Jones, Billy Hunter, and Mike Taylor were so bad, that we left a ton of runners on base. Taylor didn't get a single hit and even though three of Jones' 5 hits were doubles, they hit well under .200 combined. We stay home this week too, but we need a much better showing.

I sort of accidentally claimed Sam Orr off waivers from the Wolves. It was on purpose at first, I expected to trade Johnny McDowell, but when Boston brought Charlie Barry back home instead, I forgot that I had the Orr claim until I saw him DFA'd. With the Hall trade, an outfield spot opened up in Mobile, so I sent Aart MacDonald back to AAA and sent John Johnson back down to AA. Orr was a player I followed in the 1929 draft, and he was selected 5th Overall by the Wolves. He debuted in 1931 with a solid .319/.359/.410 (106 OPS+) batting line and added 34 doubles, 10 triples, a homer, 18 steals, and 66 RBIs. It looked like the Wolves had a long term solution, but now 24, 1932 was the only other above average season for Orr. His career .276/.321/.381 (87 OPS+) career line fell short of what it could have been, and at 31, he's now strictly a bench player. He's likely to spend the rest of the season on our bench, but he may be a 40-man casualty in the offseason.

Looking Ahead
At least we get a day off to recover, but we blew a huge opportunity. The Stars also struggles, so if we won four games instead of none, we'd still be in third and in striking distance of first. Instead, we just have next year to think about, as I don't think we can make it back. Still, with six games and an off day after, I'll try to run with the top four, giving two starts to Jim Lonardo and Dick Lyons. The Stars are still in first, tied with the Foresters at 53-42 and three games ahead of the Kings and Sailors. They had a rough 1-6 week, so that means they're primed to bounce back and sweep us just like Brooklyn and Montreal. They brought William Jones in to stabilize their rotation, and he's looked good in his four starts. He was 1-2, but with a 3.82 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.37 WHIP, 7 walks, and 8 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched. He'll make a solid 1-2 with Billy Riley, who is 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 60 walks, and 81 strikeouts in 180.1 impressive innings. They'll be without Bill Barrett for a while, so Hank Jones is starting to get time in the lineup. He's been effective, slashing .344/.396/.522 (136 OPS+) with 8 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 18 RBIs. Unfortunately for them, Ray Cochran has really started to slump, hitting just .220/.336/.418 in 113 July plate appearances. I really want to win this series, but after the showing we put last week, I expect three more losses.

Baltimore is next in town, and unfortunately for Howie Pike, he will never pitch again for them. He partially tore his UCL on July 1st, ending his career. He was in the midst of his best season, 3-3 with a 4.66 ERA (91 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 11 walks, and 11 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched split between the rotation and pen. He wasn't a major pitcher for them, with really only Gus Goulding have a good season. He's just 7-13, but his 3.69 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 58 walks, and 68 strikeouts in 183 reliable innings. Joe Rainbow returned to the big leagues, and the former Cougar prospect is hitting .291/.330/.456 (104 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 3 homers, and 16 RBIs across 110 plate appearances. We really need these wins, so anything less then a sweep would be tough to deal with, as we can't drop any more games.

ayaghmour2 · 11-08-2021, 02:10 PM

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record:50-53 (6th, 8.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 21 AB, 12 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .571 AVG, 1.513 OPS
Rich Langton : 24 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .333 AVG, .995 OPS
Ray Ford : 25 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .320 AVG, .680 OPS

Schedule
8-8: Win vs Stars (0-6)
8-9: Loss vs Stars (10-3)
8-10: Win vs Stars (2-6)
8-11: Loss vs Cannons (6-5)
8-12: Loss vs Cannons (8-1)
8-13: Win vs Cannons (3-4): 10 innings

Recap
I hate this team sometimes... We take two out of three from the Stars to knock them out of first before letting the dismal Cannons take two of three from us to end up splitting the week even. This really forces us to focus on next season, another blown season in Chicago, as Cleveland is now 8.5 games ahead of us and there are five teams between us and them. The only good thing coming out of the week was Leo Mitchell, who was named CA Player of the Week. The 26-year-old was 12-for-21 with 2 homers, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs en route to his second career Player of the Week, both ironically in August. It's been a bit of a down season for Mitchell with the bat, but he's still hitting an effective .340/.380/.453 (119 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, and 55 RBIs. He also set his career high for strikeouts with 80. This jump has been very concerning for Mitchell, but .340 is his highest career average and his .453 slugging is less then 10 points away from his career high.

Jim Lonardo had two starts that couldn't be any different, the first a 2-hit, 2 strikeout shutout of the New York Stars. He then turned around and let the Cannons bash his brains in, 11 hits and 8 runs (6 earned) with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched. Lonardo has been reliable since the trade, but unfortunately it hasn't translated to Cougar wins. His ERA is almost identical with each Chicago team, 3.46 with us and 3.42 with them, and he's walked fewer and struck out more so far. Lyons also had two starts, although the first one was the bad one. He went 7.2 with 11 hits and 9 runs (6 earned) against the Stars, but 9.1 with 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout in an extra inning no decision we won in the bottom half of the 10th. Milt Fritz tossed a gem, a complete game win with 11 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. The Cannons hit Harry Parker in a little revenge for the shutout, 12 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks, but 6 strikeouts in his 8 innings. We're going back to a five man rotation this week, so Cy who didn't get an inning this week, will get a start.

The bats really froze up, just Rich Langton also having an above average week. Langton was 8-for-24 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 runs, and 6 RBIs. Our double play duo of Jones and Hunter didn't hit much, 10-for-46 with 2 doubles, a homer, 6 RBIs, 5 runs, and 3 walks. Lawson, Montes, Taylor, and Ford all had their own measures of struggle, and they each had no more then one extra base hit a piece. If we hit a little this week, I could see us being 4-2 or at least 5-1, but we'll have to learn a lot in the offseason if we want to be back in a pennant race soon.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week before we let the Foresters walk all over us at home. At 58-44, they have a 3.5 game lead over the Sailors and Stars, are in a commanding position to return to the postseason. Rankin and Astle have pushed their ERAs below 5 while Lou Martino's is back above 3, but the team continues to win games. Martino has pitched just 114 innings, but he's 7-3 with a 3.08 ERA (141 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 47 walks, and 30 strikeouts. Much better then Astle, who is 11-9 with a 4.55 ERA (95 ERA+), 1.51 WHIP, 49 walks, and 44 strikeouts in 160.1 innings pitched. Mel Carrol is putting together a Whitney Award season, challenging the .400 mark with a .392/.428/.557 (148 OPS+) line, 30 doubles, 13 homers, and 69 RBIs. Dan Fowler has one more homer and RBI, but his .235/.328/.390 (81 OPS+) line isn't nearly as good. Bill Moore has done well too, slashing .357/.422/.543 (143 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 48 RBIs. I don't have much hope for this series, but I'm hoping we can steal at least a game, as I'm not sure I could take a sweep.

It doesn't get easier to end the week, as our homestand ends with the 54-47 Sailors. The Sailors pitching hasn't been nearly as good as usual, with Dutch Sheldon now leading the staff. He's 8-9 with a 4.04 ERA (107 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 82 walks, and 68 strikeouts in 156 solid innings. Merritt Thomas has been moved to the pen, 8-4 with 4 saves in 20 pen innings and 8 starts with a 4.69 ERA (92 ERA+), 1.49 WHIP, 35 walks, and 37 strikeouts. At the plate, Dick Walker is the only hitter with double digit longballs, hitting .277/.405/.452 (117 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 9 triples, 10 homers, 15 steals, and 59 RBIs. Bob Smith is slashing .329/.418/.470 (125 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 3 triples, 7 homers, 11 steals, and 62 RBIs with just 3 strikeouts and 46 walks. They bat around the dangerous Joe Watson, who everyone should have claimed on waivers two seasons ago. He's hitting a strong .356/.425/.557 (148 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 13 triples, 8 homers, and 62 RBIs. Like the Cleveland series, we'll be lucky to get a single win, and if we have back-to-back sweeps again, I'm not sure I'll be able to write another one of these...

Minor League Report
RHP Del Burns (AAA Milwaukee Blues): If we were still in the hunt, I might have brought Burns up to fill the 5th spot in our rotation. Instead, we're a few games under .500, and he'll pitch in Milwaukee until rosters expand. He looks big league ready, 10-1 with a 3.54 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, 30 walks, and 99 strikeouts in 122 elite innings pitched. Burns was also floated around in trade discussions, but the hard throwing righty seems set to make his debut with the Cougars. The 3rd Overall Pick in 1934, the skinny righty features a 95-97 fastball and cutter, and he does an excellent job keeping the ball on the ground. Add in a slider, change, and forkball, and you have the arsenal of at least a back end starter. The strikeout numbers are encouraging, and the movement he gets on his pitches will keep the ball in the park. Ranked 8th in our system and 96th in the league, Burns has the tools to fill the back of a rotation now, and the potential to move up if he continues to improve.

C Charlie Hawkins (C La Crosse Lions): With the Solly Skidmore injury in La Crosse, I had to move Charlie Hawkins down to get him some more at bats. His first week was perfect, hitting .433/.469/.600 (149 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a homer, and 10 RBIs to take home a Player of the Week. A 12th Round Selection last season, Hawkins began the year in San Jose, and he hit .247/.340/.360 (84 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 2 homers, and 17 RBIs in just 103 trips to the plate. He had to share time with Walter Loera, who was hitting much better, but this should be a nice trip to get Hawkins back on track. Weinstock is a fan, thinking he has a future in the big leagues due to his strong eye and average contact tool. OSA thinks bench player, but at one point, he was inside the top 500. Catcher tends to be a rather weak position for us, but having as many suitable catchers as possible can be very helpful.

ayaghmour2 · 11-09-2021, 05:26 PM

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record:53-56 (6th, 9.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Billy Hunter : 17 AB, 6 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .353 AVG, 1.271 OPS8: L
Freddie Jones : 19 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .421 AVG, .921 OPS
Harry Mead : 14 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .429 AVG, 1.029 OPS

Schedule
8-15: Loss vs Foresters (2-1)
8-16: Loss vs Foresters (7-5): 11 innings
8-17: Win vs Foresters (3-6)
8-18: Loss vs Sailors (4-3)
8-19: Win vs Sailors (3-8)
8-20: Win vs Sailors (1-3)

Recap
While our season technically isn't over, another 3-3 week makes it feels like it is. Again, we fail to win one run games, this time dropping two, the openers of both series. The season is over, however, for Carlos Montes, who tore his meniscus and will spend the remainder of the season on the disabled list. Now back-to-back early endings for the 23-year-old former first round pick, who will end 10 games short of 100, his total in the previous two seasons. We have a few options to replace him, and while I did consider Juan Pomales, he's more of a right fielder then center fielder, and Aart MacDonald was already on the 40. Montes finished what would be the worst of his three seasons, hitting a slightly below average .247/.306/.438 (94 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 4 triples, 5 steals, 11 homers, and 48 RBIs in a career low 335 plate appearances. Aart hasn't hit at all in Chicago, but his .305/.423/.547 (144 OPS+) AAA line is very inspiring, and in just 39 games he's added 12 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 11 steals, and 24 RBIs. He'll split time with Orlin Yates, who is hitting a mediocre .259/.340/.365 (86 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 2 steals, and 10 RBIs. Both are lefties, so I cannot platoon, but I imagine Aart will get the majority of time out in center unless Yates starts hitting as both are plus defenders so the difference will be who can hit a little less awful.

Billy Hunter had a week to remember, recording 3 doubles and 2 homers with 5 RBIs and 3 runs scored in 18 productive trips to the plate. Double play partner Freddie Jones didn't have an extra base hit, but finished 8-for-19 with 3 runs, 4 walks, and 4 RBIs. Harry Mead saw four lefty pitchers and went 6-for-14 with a double 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and 3 walks. He's been hot, increasing his season line to .308/.400/.441 (122 OPS+) in a .429/.515/.714 August. No one else did any hitting, with Lawson, Langton, and Ford combining for a pitiful 8-for-70.

Milt Fritz was our two start starter this week, and he deserved to win both, not just one, of his complete games. The loss saw 9 hits, 2 runs, a walk, and 2 strikeouts while the win had 7 hits, a solo homer, 2 walks, and a strikeout. It would be nice if he put together more starts like this, as Fritz has really struggled this season. An even 9-9, his 4.30 ERA (97 ERA+) and 1.47 WHIP aren't any good and he's walked 76 with just 35 strikeouts. Cy Sullivan did have a decent start of his own, 9 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts in a complete game victory. Jim Lonardo looked good, an 8 inning win with 11 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Dick Lyons lost his start, 9 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and 2 strikeouts in 7 tough innings. Harry Parker pitched nine in our extra inning loss, charged with 9 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), and 4 walks with 4 strikeouts. Peter the Heater was a stupendous stopper, just a single walk and hit with 8 strikeouts in 4 effective innings. He got the save in the 6-3 win while keeping us in the extra inning game and Lyons' start.

Looking Ahead
We start the week on the road with two against the struggling Wolves. They've had worse luck then us, 49-57 and 12 games behind the first place Foresters. Joe Hancock broke out of a slump with a 7-hit shutout against the Sailors to improve to 12-8 on the season. He is in the running for an Allen Award again, with a 3.24 ERA (133 ERA+), 1.22 WHIP, 53 walks, and 91 strikeouts. His strikeouts are two behind Pete and three behind George Phillips, but Hancock is also second in wins and ERA while leading the CA in WAR less then 6 innings away from another 200 inning season. He's a big reason why they lead the league in ERA and have allowed the fewest runs all season. Bernie Johnson has rebounded well, but his 5-12 record wouldn't show it. His 3.88 ERA (111 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 42 walks, and 44 strikeouts are all decent, but he has gotten very little run support. The offense hasn't given the pitching much help, but Fred McCormick is doing his best to win another Whitney. He's slashing a robust .380/.477/.663 (186 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 11 triples, 19 homers, 8 steals, and 81 RBIs. The most help he's gotten is from Reginald Westfall, who is hitting an average .303/.400/.423 (109 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 4 homers, and 42 RBIs. They have given time to top 20 prospect Tom Frederick, but the early results form "Mr. Versatility" haven't been very pleasing. The 23-year-old is spending most of his time at second, but hitting just .266/.330/.340 (71 OPS+) with seven doubles and six runs driven in. We're likely facing Jim Morrison, who's two starts this season have been much better then last season. In 15.1 innings he's allowed 15 hits, 5 runs, and 6 walks with 7 strikeouts, earning a win and no decision.

We really need to win the two in Toronto, as our next two are in Cleveland. Now 62-46, they have a two and a half game lead on the Stars. Cleveland hasn't won a pennant since 1935, but they can control their own destiny. They also have a Whitney candidate of their own in Mel Carrol. The 27-year-old is hitting an impressive .379/.416/.544 (141 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 14 homers, and 71 RBIs. 35-year-old Rube McCormick has made a resurgence, working to a 2.99 ERA (135 ERA+) and 1.40 WHIP in 72.1 strong innings out of the rotation. Fellow veteran Ben Turner is back to a fulltime rotation role, and is 12-9 with a 3.97 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.49 WHIP, 64 walks, and 33 strikeouts. Dave Rankin tossed a shutout in his most recent start, a 4-hitter against the Wolves. He's now 10-12 with a 4.59 ERA (94 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 73 walks, and 57 strikeouts as he maintains pace for another 200 inning season. We're lucky we get an off day after the season, as I think we'll be recovering from a mini sweep at the hands of the Foresters.

Still on the road after, as we get two with the Sailors to finish the week. They are still in the hunt, but we dropped them to 55-51 and third place. Former shortstop Jim Beard has adjusted well to the hot corner, working to a 3.3 zone rating and 1.022 efficiency in 838.1 innings. The 2-Time All Star also has an average .321/.371/.434 (104 OPS+) line with 16 doubles, 10 triples, 14 steals, 3 homers, and 58 RBIs. "The Flatbush Flash" has been worth nearly three wins above replacement, already his second highest career mark. He won't reach the 6.3 measure from 1937, but he's been a nice new addition for a team that sent Jack Cleaves away to acquire top young pitcher Ray McCarthy. River Grove native Woody Stone has taken a slight step back from last year, hitting a slightly below average .316/.354/.425 (97 OPS+) with 25 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, and 68 RBIs in 359 trips to the plate. He struck out just 5 in 462 last year, already 12 this season to 21 walks. If he starts to heat up, the Sailors could make things more interesting. A bounce back from "No-Hit" Newell would help as well, as the 31-year-old is just 9-9 with a 5.35 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 54 walks, and 44 strikeouts in 168.1 innings pitched. Walt Wells was just diagnosed with back tightness, so he may miss the week. He has been decent, 10-8 with a 4.23 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 65 walks, and 44 strikeouts in 159.2 innings pitched. I hope we can steal these games, we did beat them twice at home, but even a split would be considered a win.

Minor League Report
LHP Johnny Ruby (AA Mobile Commodores): The season hasn't been great for the 23-year-old, but I'm hoping his recent start is a sign of better times. He allowed 7 hits and 5 walks with 6 strikeouts in a 7-0 victory over the Chattanooga Reliables. Including that most recent start, he's 3-3 with a 5.72 ERA (82 ERA+), 1.60 WHIP, 21 walks, and 26 strikeouts. He was much more reliable in an 11 start stint in Lincoln, 5-3 with a 3.66 ERA (147 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 37 walks, and 65 strikeouts. An 8th Rounder in 1937, Weinstock thinks Ruby could develop into a back end starter, and OSA finally thinks he's worthy of a top 500 prospect spot. The slender southpaw has a nice and polished six pitch arsenal, with a superb slider and hard breaking curveball. He should rack up the strikes out, but his control isn't quite ideal. The sidewinder also does a great job keeping the ball on the ground, and has an exciting mix of tools at his disposal. He's not the hardest thrower, but his deception is one of his best qualities, and he does a good job fooling hitters. He still has some developing to go, but he's trying to show people his junior year at Smithfield College was a fluke.

RF Izzy Sevilla (A Lincoln Legislators): It was a huge game for the 25-year-old, who was 5-for-6 in a 15-9 win over the Cedar Rapid Chiefs. Only one of those five hits was a single, as he added a homer and three doubles with four runs scored and two driven in. Sevilla was struggling with Mobile, hitting .268/.311/.401 (87 OPS+) in 310 trips to the plate. The first 15 games in Lincoln have gone much better, as he's up to .375/.412/.609 (148 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 2 homers, and 11 RBIs. The struggle in AA was a bit surprising, as he hit .275/.339/.412 (107 OPS+) there last year. It's hard for outfielders to get much time in our system, so he's played a lot of games at different positions. He's spent just 16 games in right, but 40 in center and 41 in left. A 7th Round selection from 1935, he's a tireless worker whose career seems to have stalled a bit. He does have plus speed and provides above average defense, but sometimes he's a bit to eager at the plate. It will be tough for him to work his way back into favor, but he's a good piece at least for minor league depth. With the Montes injury, he'll return to Mobile, and will try to regain some favor.

LF Billy Jordan Jr. (B San Jose Cougars): Another guy on the way up, Jordan will leave San Jose with a .401/.472/.530 (164 OPS+) line with 14 doubles, 4 homers, and 45 RBIs. It was just 235 plate appearances here and 88 in La Crosse, but it's a pair of .400 seasons for the 22-year-old. It has raised his prospect status a bit, now up to 33rd in our system and 381st overall. Jordan has a nice and smooth swing that should allow him to hit for a high average, but he doesn't do much more then that. He doesn't walk or strikeout much, and extra base hits aren't really his style, so it may limit his potential as a regular. Not much of a defender either, so he really will need to hit .400 consistently if he wants a regular role. Still, this season has been very impressive, as .400 at any level is impressive.

ayaghmour2 · 11-10-2021, 04:23 PM

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 53-56 (t-5th, 10 GB)
Stars of the Week
Rich Langton : 26 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 8 RBI, .423 AVG, 1.154 OPS
Ray Ford : 28 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .393 AVG, 1.040 OPS
John Lawson : 30 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .333 AVG, .894 OPS

Schedule
8-21: Win at Wolves (9-8)
8-22: Loss at Wolves (0-7)
8-23: Loss at Foresters (7-8): 14 innings
8-24: Win at Foresters (5-3)
8-26: Win at Sailors (17-1)
8-27: Loss at Sailors (2-3)

Recap
You guessed it! Another 3-3 week! We managed to win one and lose one against each team we played, with three of the games being of the one run variety. We continue to make things difficult for ourselves, but hey! That 17-1 win! What a game! Would have been fun to save one of those runs for the 3-2 loss directly after, but 23 hits and 14 runs in the last three innings are pretty cool! A lot more cool then our 14 inning loss, and the playoffs are now double digit games away from us. The draft signing deadline also passed, so our four unsigned players will officially enroll into their new schools. Bill Mangrum will attend Texas Presbyterian, Dave Gilbert Texas Panhandle, Hack Mills Eastern Oklahoma, and Gordon Miller Coastal State. All four will be eligible again in 1942, and I'll keep an eye on them. College should help them all secure higher selections, and sometimes these impossible guys develop into very interesting prospects.

Lyons and Lonardo were our two start pitchers, but both had a seven run start and a good start. Lyons allowed 19 hits, 10 runs (7 earned), and 3 walks in 13 innings while Lonardo allowed 24 hits, 8 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts in 14.2. Neither were as bad as Harry Parker, who was roughed up for 10 hits and 8 runs with a walk and 3 strikeouts in just two and a third. At least Milt Fritz picked up a complete game victory, 8 hits with 3 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. The pen, however, was almost perfect, just a single run allowed in 17.2 innings pitched. Leverett was charged with the run, but he allowed just a single hit with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts in 6.1 strong innings. Peter the Heater was scoreless again, 6 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched. The pitching really hurt this week, and I expect more of the same in the last month or so.

Rich Langton had a great week, 11-for-26 with a steal, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 5 runs, 4 walks, and 8 RBIs. Ray Ford had a similar 11-for-28 week with a double, triple, homer, walk, 7 runs, and 7 RBIs. Freddie Jones turned things around, 9-for-26 with a homer, 3 RBIs, 4 runs, and 7 walks. John Lawson was 10-for-30 with 5 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Aart MacDonald had a nice return to Chicago, 6-for-19 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, 4 walks, and 5 RBIs while going just 1-for-4 in stolen base attempts. Mike Taylor will miss a few games with an elbow contusion, but was 6-for-19 with a double, triple, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 4 RBIs. The offense wasn't bad by any means, but with the lack of pitching it didn't matter all that much. Hunter and Mitchell had rough weeks, which could have been the difference in some of those one run games, but for the rest of the season, I just want my guys to perform well, even if the wins stop coming.

Looking Ahead
We can't split with anyone and thankfully can't go 3-3, but we start the week in Montreal with three against the Saints. At 58-56, they are in fourth and about 7.5 out of first. Jake DeYoung's struggles could have potentially kept them out of the pennant race, as the talented 26-year-old is just 11-11 with a 5.56 ERA (78 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 32 walks, and 90 strikeouts in 184.2 innings pitched. Same goes for talented 25-year-old Bud Robbins, who is 9-7 with a 5.72 ERA (76 ERA+), 1.82 WHIP, 66 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 113.1 innings pitched. Rookie Bill Stewart has cemented his rotation chances, 7-3 with a 3.94 ERA (110 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 41 walks, and 62 strikeouts in 107.1 innings pitched. He has been helped by the #1 scoring offense in the game, led by star outfielder Red Bond. He's hitting .334/.410/.500 (130 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 15 homers, and 75 RBIs in 481 star level plate appearances. No other Saint is close to that line, but Adam Mullins has a nice .318/.409/.453 (119 OPS+) triple slash with 27 doubles, 8 homers, 79 RBIs, 63 walks, and 6 strikeouts. A surprising star for them has been rookie and former top 50 prospect Mark Burns, who is hitting a productive .307/.381/.476 (116 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 4 triples, 9 homers, 64 RBIs, 42 walks, and 12 strikeouts. We also may get our first look at #7 prospect Wally Doyle "The Waco Kid" who made five starts last season and two this season. He hasn't been great, 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA (66 ERA+), 1.95 WHIP, 37 walks, and 19 strikeouts, but he won't turn 21 until after the season. Regardless, he's one of the most exciting youngsters in the game, and he should turn into an outstanding weapon for them. This will be another tough road trip, and I'm ready to be disappointed.

We finish August and then start September with the last place Cannons, who were able to easily dispose of us last time we met. At 48-66, they are the only team yet to win 50 games in the Continental Association. Year two for Rufus Barrell has looked closer to what we have expected for him, as the 22-year-old southpaw is 11-7 with a 3.95 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.37 WHIP, 42 walks, and 82 strikeouts in 159.1 innings pitched. He's been a good #2 for Gus Goulding, who is 9-14 with a 3.86 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.37 WHIP, 70 walks, and 79 strikeouts in 216.2 innings pitched. 28-year-old swingman Butch Smith is making his case for a more permanent role, 7-8 with 3 saves, a 3.66 ERA (115 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 55 walks, and 64 strikeouts in 110.2 innings pitched. The former 3rd Rounder debuted out of the pen last season, but he does look interesting enough as a starter and the fans absolutely love him. With Whit Williams on the mend, former 13th Overall Pick and current #14 prospect Mike T. Taylor has had his contract purchased and has looked like a vet at the plate. Now 21, Taylor is hitting .265/.387/.510 (133 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, a homer, and 13 RBIs while walking 11 times without a single strikeout. The kid is a horrid defender, but his bat will be more then enough for him to make a name for himself. The rest of the offense has really struggled, but "The Mouse" Fred Galloway has slashed a robust .305/.388/.475 (124 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 20 triples, 3 homers, and 53 RBIs in 477 excellent plate appearances. He was their lone All Star, and looks like a piece they can build on long term. We really need to win this series, and while a sweep is ideal and unlikely, I'd be more then happy with just a series win.

We finish the week by starting a three game set with the Stars. Still in the hunt, they're 61-51 yet three and a half games out. Now 41, Dave Trowbridge has still been outstanding. He's hitting .334/.415/.489 (133 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 12 homers, and 74 RBIs. Moxie Pidgeon has started to cool down, but he's still hitting a respectable .305/.356/.452 (107 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 17 homers, and 73 RBIs behind him. Bill Barrett is still in recovery, but Hank Jones has hit well in his absence, maintaining a .324/.366/.459 (112 OPS+) line with 9 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, and 23 RBIs. Ray Cochran has continued to hit well, but his defense, like Pidgeon, has been really poor. Still, Cochran's 3.0 WAR is just barely best then his last season career high of 2.9, and he's hit .290/.378/.481 (120 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 17 triples, 8 homers, 42 RBIs, and 63 walks. William Jones suffered shoulder inflammation last week, and will miss the next nine months with his injury. His 7 starts with the Stars were as awful as the injury, 1-3 with a 5.36 ERA (79 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 9 walks, and 8 strikeouts. He was supposed to form a solid 1-2 with Billy Riley, who is 13-10 with a 3.75 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 68 walks, and 89 strikeouts in his first 200 inning season. The 25-year-old was a former 9th Round selection from 1932, and owns a career 3.52 ERA (118 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP in 368.1 innings pitched. The rest of the rotation has let them down, but George Phillips' 96 strikeouts are better the any non-Peter the Heater pitcher. He's 13-9 with a 4.35 ERA (98 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, and 110 walks in 231.2 innings pitched. I'm hoping we can win at least one of these three games, but we'll only get the opener tomorrow.

Minor League Report
LHP Harl Haines (AA Mobile Commodores): A 10th Rounder in 1935, fireballing submarine southpaw Harl Haines has really done great at polishing his craft and developing into a future big league starter. His most recent start was impressive, a 3-hit, 3-strikeout shutout in a 4-0 win over the Nashville Chieftains. It was his 12th start in Mobile, 19th overall, and he has very similar ERA+'s at both stops, 161 and 164. With the Commodores, Haines is 9-3 with a 2.85 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 23 walks, and 49 strikeouts in 101 innings pitched. Ranked 13th in our system and 151st overall, the 6'3'' Haines has done an excellent job racking up the strikeouts while keeping the walks manageable. His best pitch is his mid 90s cutter, and while his overall stuff isn't the best, he makes up for it with pinpoint control and a lot of groundballs. The skinny southpaw has the floor of a 5th starter, but since he joined our system, he's done nothing but improve and exceed expectations. I think he could be ready for Milwaukee, but with a full rotation there, I can expect to see Haines spending the rest of the season in Mobile. He's maybe a season or two away from being big league ready, but I think he still has a lot of growing and untapped potential left.

3B Jocko Pollard (A Lincoln Legislators): Playing time has been a little tough to come around for Jocko Pollard, but that didn't stop him from going 5-for-6 in a 14-5 crushing of the Peoria Pastimers. He doubled three times and drove in five, and is now hitting an impressive .353/.406/.636 (152 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 18 homers, and 86 RBIs in just over 300 trips to the plate. The 22-year-old has spent his whole season in Lincoln, and he's played a majority of his games at third. He's had a terrible time in the field, a .892 fielding percentage, -8.6 zone rating, and .859 efficiency in 457.1 innings. First base is his likely landing spot, but with Bill Dambreville there now, he's stuck spending most of his time at the hot corner. He has made his way up our prospect rankings, checking in at 23rd and 270th, mainly due to his bat. He has well above average contact skills, and he's done an excellent job improving his power and strength. He has a smooth swing with quick hands, and his pitch recognition skills are rapidly improving. Weinstock doesn't even like his defensive skills at first, and he's way too early for the DH to save him. He's far from a sure thing, but he may already have an FABL ready bat, and a hitter like him may be extremely valuable in these stupid one run games we keep losing.

ayaghmour2 · 11-11-2021, 06:28 PM

Weekly Record: 6-1
Seasonal Record: 62-60 (5th, 10 GB)
Stars of the Week
Rich Ford : 32 AB, 16 H, 0 HR, 11 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.123 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 27 AB, 13 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .481 AVG, 1.340 OPS
John Lawson : 29 AB, 11 H, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .379 AVG, 1.055 OPS

Schedule
8-28: Win at Saints (5-3)
8-29: Loss at Saints (2-3)
8-30: Win at Saints (15-3)
8-31: Win at Cannons (13-0)
9-1: Win at Cannons (5-4)
9-2: Win at Cannons (7-3)
9-3: Win at Stars (5-2)

Recap
Well, well, well... Look what we have here! Just when I gave up on the season, we decide to rip off a 6-1 week to jump back above .500! Cue the unnecessary hope for making the playoffs just to be let down in the end! Of course, the only loss this week was of the one run fashion, coming against the Saints who we took two out of three from, capping it off with a commanding 15-3 win. We rode that into a 13-0 shutout and eventual sweep of the Cannons, before winning the first of the Stars series. The offense came alive, the pitching was relatively capable, and we are now much closer to second then they are to first. Cleveland is a win away from 70, but what really sucks is if we just played to our expected record (68-54), we would only be a game and a half out of first. We've scored the third most runs and allowed the second fewest, and now with rosters expanded to 35, we will be able to add a few reinforcements.

The bats came to play, led by the red hot Leo Mitchell. He finished the week 13-for-27 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 5 walks, 10 runs, and 6 RBIs in a very well rounded week. Ray Ford was arguably better, 16-for-32 with a double, triple, 5 runs, and 11 RBIs. John Lawson was 11-for-29 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 7 runs, and 9 RBIs. Billy Hunter was solid too, 9-for-26 with a double, triple, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Orlin Yates looked good in his 11 trips to the plate, 5-for-9 with an RBI and pair of runs scored. Freddie Jones has started to cool down, just 3-for-21 with a double, 3 walks, 4 runs, and an RBI. Aart MacDonald wasn't great, but went 5-for-18 with a double, run, 2 RBIs, and 4 walks.

Our two start starters this week were Harry Parker and Milt Fritz, and they were both outstanding. Parker tossed a pair of complete game victories, 18 hits with 6 runs (3 earned), a walk, and 7 strikeouts to lower his ERA back down to an even 4.00. Fritz was actually charged with one of the losses, allowing 21 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), and 5 walks with 4 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched. Fritz has 11 wins on the season, and is now an even 54-54 as a Cougar. Jim Lonardo, however, had the best start of the week, a 5-hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout shutout of the Cannons. The 35-year-old vet is 8-4 with a 3.29 ERA (127 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP in 115 excellent innings with us. Dick Lyons had the one rough start, 11 hits and 4 runs with a walk and 2 strikeouts in 7 innings pitched. Cy Sullivan looked decent in his start, a complete game win with 13 hits, 3 runs, and a walk. We also only needed one pen arm this week, and he was impressive. Peter the Heater has looked outstanding as a stopper, this week just 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 4 hitless innings. As a reliever, Papenfus is 4-1 with 3 saves, a 1.12 ERA (372 ERA+), 1.12 WHIP, 14 walks, and 24 strikeouts across 24 innings. As a starter, the sailing hasn't been nearly as smooth, 4-8 with a 6.06 ERA (69 ERA+), 1.76 WHIP, 71 walks, and 76 strikeouts in 87.2 innings pitched. Obviously, I want Papenfus to be an ace, not a fireman in the pen, but the 21-year-old will likely finish the season in the pen before working back into a starting role next year.

Looking Ahead
Two more with the Stars in New York, who have dropped down to 62-57 and a full six games out of first. I like our chances here, and I expect us to see Chris Clarke and Vern Hubbard instead of having to deal with Bill Riley and George Philips. Clarke has looked good in 8 starts and 5 relief outings, 3-3 with a 3.82 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 32 walks, and 22 strikeouts. Hubbard has started all 27 of his appearances, but the numbers haven't been exactly what the Stars wanted. The high upside 24-year-old is 11-12 with a 4.58 ERA (93 ERA+), 1.59 WHIP, 89 walks, and 81 strikeouts as he approaches his first 200 inning season. Both guys are solid, but I think they'd be even better with a better defense. The bats have started to cool a bit as well, including Chink Stickels, who has had a major sophomore slump. One of the main pieces in the John Lawson trade, Stickels hit .322/.388/.526 (152 OPS+) with 48 doubles, 19 triples, 9 homers, 13 steals, and 73 RBIs in an outstanding rookie season that earned him an All Star bid. This year he's been just an average hitter, slashing .275/.362/.412 (99 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 9 triples, 5 homers, 11 steals, and 54 RBIs. Joe Angevine has also cooled off from his hot start, hitting just .283/.342/.377 (85 OPS+) in 413 trips to the plate. I don't think we'll have nearly as much success this week, but if we can finish off the sweep, the momentum it will build would be huge.

The road trip continues with two more, but we won't have to leave the state of New York. The Kings will host us, but the reigning pennant winners are now 58-63, tied with the Wolves for six. Art White has started to struggle, now 10-9 as his ERA as jumped above 4 to 4.15 (104 ERA+) with a 1.52 WHIP, 53 walks, and 70 strikeouts. Same has gone for Bob Cummings, 12-6 with a similar 3.99 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.35 WHIP, 60 walks, and 74 strikeouts in 151 innings pitched. Jack Goff has looked really good, as Danny's brother is 7-4 with a 3.42 ERA (126 ERA+) and 1.53 WHIP, but with a less encouraging 45 walks and 18 strikeouts. The Kings rotation has started to falter a bit, and if our bats stay hot, we may be able to put up a ton of runs. The lineup hasn't been overly productive, but their 1-2 of rookies have done well in limited time. 4th Overall Pick, #2 prospect, and minor league skipper Rats McGonigle has been impressive, hitting .320/.352/.542 (124 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 8 triples, 4 homers, and 30 RBIs in his first 166 FABL PAs. Right behind him is fellow lefty Jim Lightbody, whose 33-to-6 walk-to-strikeout ratio has fueled his .316/.436/.529 (144 OPS+) batting line. The youngest Lightbody has added 12 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 6 steals, and 29 RBIs, most coming above his buddy Frank. A little heating up from Al Wheeler, who is hitting an average .257/.344/.425 (95 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 3 triples, 17 homers, and 68 RBIs in what should end up as his 12th consecutive 600 plate appearance season. You can never underestimate the Kings, there is a lot of talent there, but now that we decided it's cool to win games, we may be able to come into town for the quick sweep.

Off Friday, but we finish our long road trip and the week with two against the first place Foresters. These games are huge with a capital H, as the only way we can really catch the Foresters is by beating them ourselves. Cleveland scores a ton of runs, and Mel Carrol is a big reason for that. His .369/.412/.525 (135 OPS+) batting line is Whitney worthy, and when you add in the 34 doubles, 2 triples, 14 homers, and 82 RBIs, and you have one of the most valuable bats in the league. Behind him is the power bat of Dan Fowler, who has shown you can produce runs even when you hit below .250. His .230/.330/.380 (79 OPS+) batting line leaves a lot to be desired, but his 15 doubles, 2 triples, 17 homers, and team high 85 RBIs can make up for it. And despite not starting every game, Bill Moore has been one of the league's most productive hitters, hitting .341/.421/.547 (143 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 4 triples, 7 homers, and 57 RBIs with 39 walks and just 6 strikeouts. The only real weakness in the lineup has been Brooks Meeks, a once productive second basemen who is hitting just .267/.312/.382 (74 OPS+) in his aged 30 season. The pitching hasn't been great, but ace Dean Astle has really started to turn things around. Now 13-11, he has a slightly above average 4.23 ERA (103 ERA+) with a 1.49 WHIP, 57 walks, and 56 strikeouts while still on a 6.0 WAR pace. Dave Rankin has evened his record to 12-12, but his 4.51 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.53 WHIP, 80 walks, and 57 strikeouts haven't been the best use of his 207.2 innings pitched. I would like to face 23-year-old rookie Johnny Slaney, who is 1-1 with a 3.76 ERA (116 ERA+), 1.71 WHIP, 18 walks, and 10 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched. A former top 100 prospect, Slaney was taken back in 1934 with a pick I traded to the Miners, and he's done a great job recovering from a torn UCL last season. I know this will be a tough series, and when we are inevitably swept by the Foresters, I can finally put the season to rest.

I'm not ready to stack the big league roster with callups yet, as all our affiliates other then Mobile are in first place with a month left in the season. Most have double digit leads, while Lincoln is 4 games up and Mobile is 12 games out, but I always keep extra players on hand and usually have more guys playing then needed. Most levels have four outfielders sharing three spots with an extra infielder keeping the starters fresh, and I run six man rotations at all levels. I do want extra arms on hand, and while I really want to bring Del Burns or Juan Pomales up, I only have one free 40 man spot, and that will be left for Carlos Montes, who will eventually need to be taken off the 60-Day DL. The other will go to gloveman Oscar King, a longtime Cannon shortstop. I've always been enamored with King, a late round selection by the Kings who has spent most of his 794 FABL games with the Cannons. Other then his rookie season in 1933, King has called Baltimore home, and he earned a 60.7 zone rating and 1.050 efficiency at short. Unfortunately for him, he has never had any success with the bat, hitting just .232/.340/.314 (80 OPS+) with 101 doubles, 35 triples, 14 homers, and 281 RBIs. He'll be useful off the bench, and he may try to work for a bench role next season. He's hit just .191/.318/.257 (51 OPS+) in 217 PAs this year, but King has an outstanding eye and his glove is extremely valuable as well.

Joining him will be a pair of lefties in Jim Miller and Rusty Watts. Miller has started all 20 of his games in Milwaukee, and all 110 in his minor league career, but my scout and I agree that Miller's future is likely in the pen. He'll fill a mop up role for us, after finishing 4-5 with a 4.78 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, 21 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitched. Watts hasn't had much success this season, but the 24-year-old throws consistently in the upper 90s with a lively fastball. His stuff is outstanding, but the command leaves a lot to desire. He started 16 games in Mobile and relieved 7 in Milwaukee, but his ERAs of 5.42 (86 ERA+) and 5.82 (87 ERA+) were not that impressive. Most was due to command, 36 walks to 37 strikeouts, after 50 and 81 the season before. I'm not sure either arm will get many innings, but it can't hurt to have some mop up arms to keep everyone fresh. I may bring up Chet Peacock soon as well, but I can't see Pug or Joe Brown coming up when they can still get regular starts in Milwaukee.

The bench will get some new faces, including a third catcher in Johnnie Williamson. Weinstock thinks Williamson is an average FABL starter, OSA tends to agree, but the former 8th Rounder is stuck behind Mike Taylor and Harry Mead, and as long as they are both Cougars, he's not likely to see much playing time for us. It was a bit of a down season for him, but the Blues catcher hit .281/.354/.347 (79 OPS+) with 20 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 55 RBIs in 478 trips to the plate. Bringing Williamson up also helps unclog our system a bit, giving Steve Mountain a chance to face AAA pitching, and Diego Bernal and Gidge Sumpter to return to an everyday role instead of having to split at bats. I also wanted a few reliable pinch hitters, so that meant the bat only Johnny Waters and Bobby Mills will be on a train to Chicago. Waters has slashed a robust .358/.417/.524 (138 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 12 homers, and 79 RBIs with Mills sporting an astronomical .340/.414/.596 (154 OPS+) with 35 doubles, 2 triples, 19 homers, and 99 RBIs. T

he last piece up is 26-year-old Homer Ray, our 17th best prospect and the league's 235th. He's a decent glove, but Ray hasn't gotten much time in AAA. He's hit a poor .270/.320/.328 (65 OPS+) in 150 trips to the plate. That leaves us with four open roster spots, and I sort of have an idea of what I'm going to do with them. Tip Harrison will likely join the roster in a week or two, as I love the 28-year-olds versatility. Larry Robison may make the trip up because of his wheels, 29 steals in 38 attempts to go with a .330/.404/.478 (123 OPS+) line. There's also likely to be a few interesting pieces on waivers, so an empty spot or two can come in handy, and then once the minor league season ends, I can bring up one of the Blues' starters.

Minor League Report
SS Skipper Schneider (AA Mobile Commodores): He's probably ready for the big leagues, but I'm just not quite ready to give a 40-man spot to an 18-year-old, and I'm not ready to burn options on him yet either. A strained PCL cost him a month in his first pro season, but Skipper has hit a very good .333/.365/.444 (112 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 steals, and 14 RBIs in three PAs shy of 100. His defense, however, has been most impressive, working to a 9.1 zone rating and 1.129 efficiency in just 186 innings at short. Of course, Skipper is also extremely versatile, able to handle second, third, left, right, and probably center too, but other then a lone start at second, he's spent all his time at short. As things look now, he'll push Billy Hunter to third once he's ready, as Schneider projects to be a defensive marvel. Ranked 5th in our system and 47th in the league, the teen also has a quick bat that allows him to catch up to any fastball. He doesn't have the best luck against off-speed stuff yet, but I think that's something he will definitely overcome. He has a really high ceiling, but Weinstock thinks that both Hunter and Hal Wood's are even higher. That doesn't worry me all that much, Hunter and Wood were also first round selections and Hunter was a top 5 prospect at one point, and Skipper is actually further along then the 25-year-old Wood. I think he has a higher chance of reaching his potential then Wood and even Hunter, as Skipper is an extremely hard worker who is already good enough to suit up for an FABL team.

RHP Billy Seawood (A Lincoln Legislators): Before I even knew about his most recent starts, our former 12th Rounder was already on his way up to Mobile. He had a two start week, starting with a 6-hit, 4-walk, 2-strikeout shutout of the Peoria Pastimers. Lincoln put up 13 runs, so Seawood didn't have to be dominant, as those runs would have been better suited for his other start. He went 8 since we were on the road, allowing 5 hits, a run, an earned run, a walk, and 3 strikeouts to drop to 6-4. He made 7 starts in San Jose before 11 in Lincoln with outstanding marks at both spots. He was 5-0 in San Jose with a 2.54 ERA (194 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 5 walks, and 33 strikeouts. His record wasn't as strong in Lincoln, but his 3.60 ERA (149 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, 24 walks, and 32 strikeouts were impressive none the less. Now 22, Seawood has a decent three pitch arsenal, featuring a high 80s fastball, with an off the charts change and strong slider. The change is the go to pitch, and he locates it well, but he does a good job pitching low in the zone and forcing batters to roll over his pitches. His upside is a little limited, but his floor is pretty high as he's very well developed for his age. He profiles more as a long reliever with the pitches to start, but it will take a bit of luck for Seawood to secure a long term rotation spot.

ayaghmour2 · 11-12-2021, 05:28 PM

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 65-63 (5th, 8.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
N/A: Email Glitch

Schedule
9-4: Loss at Stars (5-7)
9-5: Loss at Stars (1-7)
9-6: Win at Kings (12-2)
9-7: Win at Kings (6-5)
9-9: Loss at Foresters (5-9)
9-10: Win at Foresters (5-1)

Recap
We're back! Another 3-3 week! All is right in the world! The Foresters had a rough week, so we made up some ground, but now it's only a matter of time before we are eliminated from postseason contention. We let the Stars shake off their cold streak, taking the last two in the New York series, but we did manage to sweep the Kings and split with the Foresters. Still, not a very inspiring week, allowing five or more runs in four of our games, but at least we won the one run game! I also decided to bring Tip Harrison up from Milwaukee. The super utility man hit .268/.354/.407 (93 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 11 homers, 14 steals, and 54 RBIs in 457 plate appearances. He can play the outfield too, but with Pomales functioning as the fourth outfielder, Tip only spent his time on the dirt. He got 38 games at first, 30 at second, 32 at third, and 29 at short, with efficiencies of 1.095, 1.072, 1.070, and 1.050. He still has options left, so I expect him to function mainly as minor league depth, but eventually he'll turn into our most useful bench piece.

The bats were lively this week, with our double play duo of Hunter and Jones tearing the cover off the ball. In a Player of the Week worthy showing, Hunter went 12-for-22 with a double, triple, 3 walks, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs scored. Jones was arguably just as effective, 11-for-30 with a double, 2 homers, 9 RBIs, 6 runs, and 4 walks. John Lawson got into the fun as well, 11-for-25 with 4 doubles, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. Ray Ford added 5 RBIs to his now third highest total in the CA (88), 11-for-29 with 6 doubles, a steal, and 5 runs scored. Leo Mitchell had another 5-hit game, making up for half of his hits that week. He finished 10-for-26 with a pair of runs scored. Rich Langton was 9-for-25 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. Unfortunately, our catchers and center fielders had no effect at the plate, combining to go 8-for-47 with 2 doubles, 7 runs, and 4 RBIs.

I gave all the compliments to Jim Lonardo last week, but this week was a far different story. One of our two start starters, he lost to both the Stars and the Foresters, and failed to get out of the 8th in both outings. He allowed 24 hits, 16 runs (11 earned), and 5 walks with just 4 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched. Dick Lyons didn't fair much better, but he picked up a win against Cleveland and a loss against New York. The win was impressive, a complete game with 6 hits, a run, 2 walks, and a strikeout while the loss went just 6.2 with 10 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, and a strikeout. Cy Sullivan looked rejuvenated a bit, a complete game win with 9 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Harry Parker also picked up a complete game win, but he was not as effective. He allowed 10 hits and 5 runs (4 earned) with 5 walks and 6 strikeouts. None of our callups got an inning, we just needed nine outs from the pen, but other then Lonardo, we didn't really pitch that poorly.

Looking Ahead
Home sweet home! Well, not too sweet, as we have to start the week with a double header against the Sailors. At 65-61, they are a game ahead of us and seven and a half out of first. We'll get to see Herb Flynn and then probably Merritt Thomas, who has returned to the rotation. Flynn is now 11-12 with a 3.81 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 81 walks, and 58 strikeouts in 191.1 innings pitched. He's been the most effective Sailor pitcher, and the only one with an ERA below 4. Thomas has struggled and was demoted to the pen, with just 10 of his 32 outings coming from the rotation. He's 9-5 with 4 saves, but a 5.38 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.60 WHIP, 40 walks, and 41 strikeouts in 92 innings pitched. I like our chances against him, but this will definitely be a tough double header. We'll have to suppress Joe Watson and his .356/.418/.547 (142 OPS+) batting line while tip toeing around Dick Walker, Jim Beard, and Bob Smith who are all having slightly above average seasons at the plate. They do have some weakness in the lineup, with leadoff man Jorge Nava and 8 hitter Don Homer. Nava has really fallen off from three consecutive impressive offensive seasons to hit .250/.362/.342 (79 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 12 steals, and 33 RBIs. Homer hit well in the past too, but it happened in much less time. He's hit just .287/.362/.366 (84 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 8 triples, and 49 RBIs in his first season as a full time starter. The Sailors are excellent at drawing walks, best in the league, but they hit a lot of singles and almost no home runs. We've doubled their home run total (89 to 44), but both strategies have led to 65 wins.

Off on Tuesday, so we don't really have to worry about bringing in an extra starter, and we can relax before a three game set with the Wolves. Toronto recently cracked the 60 win mark, now 60-67 on the season and a game ahead of the Kings for 6th. This year Joe Hancock will have my vote for the Allen Award, as the Wolves ace is 15-9 with a 2.99 ERA (145 ERA+), 1.22 WHIP, 64 walks, and 105 strikeouts in his fourth consecutive 200 inning season. Former #3 overall pick George Garrison may end up with his first 200 inning season, but he's 5-11 with a 4.31 ERA (101 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 57 walks, and 61 strikeouts. Both Bernie Johnson (3.56, 122) and Bob Walls (3.59, 121) have been excellent, giving the Wolves an impressive top three in their rotation. Fred McCormick has gotten some help from former top 20 prospect Walt Pack, who has excelled in his rookie season. The 24-year-old is hitting a robust .345/.409/.538 (137 OPS+) with 15 doubles, a triple, 7 homers, and 35 RBIs in his first 225 FABL plate appearances. Tom Frederick has started to heat up himself, now hitting .328/.394/.466 (116 OPS+) fueled by a .421/.463/.553 September. For the season, he has hit 15 doubles, 3 triples, a homer, and 13 RBIs while adding 5 steals. These two can make the Wolves dangerous next season, taking some of the load off Fred McCormick. "The Reticent Reaper" deserves another Whitney Award, hitting an astronomical .390/.487/.672 (190 OPS+) with 36 doubles, 12 triples, 10 steals, 24 homers, and 105 RBIs. No one in the entire league can come close to McCormick, with no other player slugging .600. The next highest average is .365 for Mel Carrol and Tom Bird's .438 OBP is the closest to McCormick. Toronto was 17-12 in August and they are looking to show the league that even though they started awful, they will be back for 1940.

We finish the week with two against the Foresters. Their lead was cut to four and a half over the Stars, but there 73-54 record has been impressive. In a crazy year of underperforming across the CA, the Foresters have taken full advantage. Lou Martino is healthy and back in the rotation, but he still has just 128.2 innings on the season. He's now 8-3 with a 3.08 ERA (141 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 55 walks, and 36 strikeouts. Dean Astle beat us to improve to 14-11 with a 4.25 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.50 WHIP, 60 walks, and 58 strikeouts. George Dawson's returned to form a bit with the glove, improving his zone rating to 7.5 and efficiency to 1.044. His .307/.358/.392 (89 OPS+) line is improved as well, and he now has 18 doubles, 8 triples, 4 homers, 12 steals, and 55 RBIs in just under 600 trips to the plate. We managed to split with them in Cleveland, so I really hope we can take both games in Chicago.

Minor League Report
RHP Art Saunders (AA Mobile Commodores): Sure, the New Orleans showboat will end up winning the Dixie League pennant, but that hasn't stopped Art Saunders from bewildering batter after batter in the mean time. His fourth consecutive complete game victory was a 3-hit shutout over Birmingham, where the Commodores won 3-0 while Art walked one and struck out nine. This improved Saunders to 9-2 on the season with a 2.74 ERA (169 ERA+), 1.02 WHIP, 12 walks, and 56 strikeouts. Injuries have held him back a little, but excusing a pair of one week absences, he's been able to stay healthy. He just surpassed the 150 inning mark, the first time of his career, but he's added innings in each season. It started with 54 in 1936, 78.1 in 1937, and then 137 last season. Now 22, the former 9th Rounder is a well liked teammate who keeps his buddies happy and laughing whether the team is up 10 or struggling to score a run. One of our most exciting young pitching prospects, he's our fourth highest rated pitcher, 10th in the system, and 125th in the league. Weinstock wagers he'll end up a #5, but I think his outstanding command will take him further then that. He has a knee buckling curveball and lively low 90s fastball, paired with a sinker and change as well. I've been really impressed with his skill in limiting walks, a Lyons-esque 1.0 with the Commodores. He's never had a below average stint at any minor league level, and he's inching closer to being big league ready. Saunders may end up being used as trade bait, but regardless of where he ends up, I'm confident that he'll succeed and put together an impressive big league career.

RHP King Price (B San Jose Cougars): Our 9th Round selection this June, the now 22-year-old King Price was moved up to San Jose out of necessity, not because of his 5.52 ERA (113 ERA+) and 1.71 WHIP in 60.1 innings pitched. He's now made four starts in San Jose, and they have been outstanding. He's allowed two or less runs in each one, the most recent a 6-hit shutout as the Cougars crushed the Fresno Falcons 11-0. That improved him to 3-1, and dropped his ERA and WHIP to 1.27 (386 ERA+) and 1,16 with 11 walks and 27 strikeouts. He's struck out almost a batter an inning in San Jose, a marked improvement over his La Crosse numbers, while maintaining his somewhat high 3.5 BB/9. A polished sidewinder, the Bluegrass State alum doesn't throw very hard, just 85-87 with his cutter, but he gets a lot of movement and uses deception in his windup to record outs. His change will be the best of his three pitches, but his knuckle curve isn't that bad either, likely ending up better then his cutter. I don't expect his velo to improve much as he develops, and I would much rather see him improve his command instead. Absent from our top 50 prospects, Price's upside is limited, but he's got a much higher floor then most of our more exciting prospects. He should be able to rise up the system fast, but unless he makes some changes, he's likely to end up as a depth piece more then anything.

CF Bunny Hufford (C La Crosse Lions): If it wasn't for a logjam of outfielders in our system, Hufford would likely be up in San Jose instead. The reigning Player of the Week, the 57th overall pick in the most recent draft will at least finish his season here, ideally starting next season in San Jose. He was outstanding, 14-for-25 with 8 RBIs and 7 runs scored. This pushed his season line to .423/.523/.610 (162 OPS+) in 151 trips to the plate. He added 17 doubles, 3 triples, 9 steals, and 27 RBIs, and despite a three week strained hamstring, he showed no signs of the injury afterward. I was worried it may hurt his range a bit, but he still has a respectable 0.7 zone rating and 1.028 efficiency in 195 innings out in center. He'll turn 22 at the end of October, but since draft day, he's been a member of the league's top 100. Currently at 7 and 76 respectively, he sits right behind Skipper and Goff, our first and second round selections. I'm a huge fan of Hufford's speed and range, potentially his top two assets. He also projects to have above average contact, and he's definitely showing flashes of that now. He should work the count well, but I'm a little surprised in the lack of power he's shown so far. Yet to hit a homer, Bunny averaged 4 a season at Chesapeake State, and I thought he might be able to hit a couple longballs in pro ball. The outfield situation is very crowded, Leo Mitchell and Carlos Montes both rank inside the top 6 at their position, and Pomales and Goff expect to at least have part time roles in the outfield, and even after the Hall trade, we still have Rich Langton who hasn't failed to have an above average offensive season. Hufford has a tough road ahead of him, but he's got the work ethic coaches love, consistently challenging his teammates to do better in practice, and I think his work ethic will rub off on others while he uses it to work on his game.

ayaghmour2 · 11-14-2021, 05:28 PM

One of the toughest parts about the January draft is there is no stat line created for the players final season. This does make it a bit easier for Amateur Reports, as I don't have to wait until closer to the draft to write the reports. This one will cover some of the interesting prep prospects, and I plan on releasing a college one as well, either later today or next weekend.

1B Bill Barnett
School: Brunswick
1939: .444/.579/.1.025, 107 PA, 12 2B, 3B, 11 HR, 34 RBI, SB
Career: .491/.583/.951, 359 PA, 43 2B, 5 3B, 26 HR, 107 RBI, 20 SB

If you like power, you're going to love Bill Barnett. "B.B." will be a four year starter, but his second two seasons were much more different then his first. He hit .527/.559/.759 as a freshman, but with just 2 homers. The next two seasons he failed to hit .500, but his slugging was well above 1, even with an OPS of 1.729 as a sophomore. He hit 24 homers and drove in 71 runs while raising his walks from 11 to 29 and 25. Barnett sacrificed contact for power, but it was surprising that his plate discipline improved as well. He won't turn 18 until August, but Barnett could follow the Bill Barrett track and fast track himself t o the majors. He's shown outstanding pitch recognition skills and he does an outstanding job working the count. His power scares pitchers, causing them to pitch around him to get him to chase, but nine times out of ten it doesn't work how they think it would. He has a fluid swing that allows him to deposit pitches well over the fence, and his offensive skills are top notch. If he's able to maintain a high average with his power, he will be a legit star, and even though he is a corner bat, he's easily one of the most exciting prep prospects in the pool. I'm not saying I would use a top pick on him, but I'd wager there aren't many bats in this class better then him. His future lies in the cleanup spot of a big league lineup, and he should keep that for years to come.

RHP Hal Hackney
School: Fulton
1939: 11-0, 113 IP, 0.72 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 22 BB, 298 K
Career: 20-0, 210 IP, 0.81 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 41 BB, 357 K

A perfect 20-0 in his 28 starts at Fulton, the Missouri native Hal Hackney may be this draft's Harry Sharp. Sure, Hackney has two seasons of stats to back up his talent, but both are talented three pitch pitchers from Missouri who are projected as bullpen pitchers not starters. Hackney has a plus slider and high 80s fastball, but his his change is a well below average offering, and could potentially make it tough for him to find a role as a starting pitcher. His control and movement are both average tools with the potential to develop into more, but that third pitch may make it hard for him to turn into a reliable starter. He just turned 18, but Hackney could be a very decisive prospect as his stats are really good, but his tools aren't overly exciting.

RHP Joe Lund
School: Bennington
1939: 11-0, 116 IP, 0.70 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 33 BB, 205 K
Career: 20-0, 207.1 IP, 0.82 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 56 BB, 357 K

It's hard to perform much better then Joe Lund, who is working on a 27 start unbeaten streak with sub 1 ERAs as a sophomore and junior. Add in a 15.5 K/9 and just a pair of home runs, and Lund looks like a lock for a selection in one of the first two rounds. 18 in March, Lund has a rather unpolished five pitch arsenal, but his fastball sits comfortably in the 87-89 range and he does an outstanding job keeping the ball on the ground. His stuff and command should end up well above average, but he's got a lot of developing left before he reaches that. My scout has some concerns about his stamina, but if he's able to keep his pitch count down it won't matter so much. Lund has the tools to start, but Weinstock and OSA don't give him the nicest scouting reports. It's hard for me to believe a pitcher as successful as Lund not developing into an exciting prospect, but as there is with all high school arms, a lot of risk is involved.

LF Dick Blaszak
School: Morris
1939: .525/.586/.1.059, 116 PA, 17 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 43 RBI, 9 SB
Career: .520/.577/.1.035, 234 PA, 29 2B, 3 3B, 23 HR, 85 RBI, 13 SB

B.B. wasn't the only prep bat to hit double digit long balls or record a 1.000 or higher slugging. In fact, "The Polish Hammer" Dick Blaszak did that as both a sophomore and junior, and it would be surprising if he didn't as a senior too. In both seasons with Morris, Blaszak hit over .500/.550/1.000 with double digit walks, doubles, and homers. I have no idea why Weinstock isn't a fan, his offensive skills are quite apparent, but OSA thinks he's the cream of the crop. They think Blaszak will develop into an elite left fielder, and I feel like that's a better prediction then on the "bubble for a big league role", but that's just me. He has 20 homer potential, but I wouldn't be surprised if he reaches 30 on multiple occasions. He makes excellent contact with the hit tool to challenge for a batting title if he reaches his potential. He works deep counts, but he doesn't have the greatest eye at the plate. An imposing 6'2'' from the right side of the plate, he weighs just 185 now, and I imagine the teen will add more strength as he develops. He's a bit holder then Barrett and will be 18 for the first portion of the draft, but I imagine he'll also be a lock for an early round selection. I can't see him falling out of the second round, but as a New Yorker, there is no way he isn't at least a regional selection.

CF John Moss
School: Lexington
1939:.480/.585/.873, 138 PA, 16 2B, 6 3B, 4 HR, 34 RBI, 25 SB
Career: .474/.582/.825, 261 PA, 30 2B, 10 3B, 6 HR, 58 RBI, 38 SB

Cousin of Chiefs outfielder and former #1 Overall Pick Cliff Moss, "Johnny Reb" has done a solid job boosting his draft stock. He increased most of his stats this season, with his WAR, average, OBP, slugging, doubles, triples, homers, RBIs, and steals all increased, and he has the talent to do that again as a senior. 18 in October, Moss is also a reliable defender, boasting excellent speed and range out in center with the possibility of being an elite defender. At the plate, he works the count, and his quick swing allows him to foul off pitches that he can't do too much with. He's patient, will draw a lot of walks, and he has a high ceiling both in the field and at the plate. Unlike a lot of the top prospects in the pool, he plays a premium position, and that will increase his value a lot. The one thing he doesn't really do is hit homers, but that's something that could easily change. He won't be a 20 home run hitter like Cliff, but I could see him having Carlos Montes type pop, good for 10 or so homers a season.

RHP Harry Stewart
School: Bell Academy
1939: 7-2, 93.2 IP, 1.35 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 28 BB, 127 K
Career: 23-5, 292.1 IP, 1.29 IP, 0.91 WHIP, 76 BB, 403 K

Unlike Lund and Hackney, Harry Stewart has had some seasons with an ERA above 1, but that doesn't mean he's not a pitcher worth keeping an eye on. Nicknamed "Crime Spree," Stewart started 40 games in his first three seasons at Bell Academy, and while he has a pair of seasons with an ERA above 1, he's kept his WHIP's below 1 in each season with a 12 K/9 of higher. A bit of a hard thrower, Stewart has a nice low 90s fastball, with a tough change and average splitter. His fourth pitch is a curve, but that's more of a last resort, low usage pitch. His command isn't perfect, walking more batters in each of his seasons, but that's really his only weakness. If he's able to keep his walks in check, he should have a future in a big league rotation, but his stuff and movement, while effective, are not enough to overcome a lack of control.

ayaghmour2 · 11-15-2021, 04:27 PM

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 69-66 (4th, 7.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo. Mitchell : 29 AB, 16 H, 0 HR, 8 RBI, .552 AVG, 1.227 OPS
Ray Ford : 30 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.038 OPS
John Lawson : 26 AB, 12 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .462 AVG, 1.164 OPS

Schedule
9-11: Win vs Sailors (1-8)
9-11: Loss vs Sailors (10-6)
9-13: Win vs Wolves (8-10)
9-14: Loss vs Wolves (7-4)
9-15: Loss vs Wolves (5-1)
9-16: Win vs Foresters (8-9)
9-17: Win vs Foresters (4-13)

Recap
We couldn't go 3-3, so we went 4-3! We split the series with the Sailors, won two against the Foresters, and didn't lose a one run game! Sure, the Wolves took two out of three from us in Chicago, but I was impressed that we won both games against Cleveland. We are still way out of first place, but every win helps at this point. It did move us up to fourth place, but we do have a chance to move up a few more spots. Leo Mitchell had a week to remember, taking home Continental Association Player of the Week. He hit well, going 16-for-29 with 2 doubles, 4 walks, 7 runs, and 8 RBIs. Mitchell has done outstanding in September, slashing .493/.553/.582 with 3 doubles, a homer, 11 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. This moved his season line up to .349/.396/.458 (124 OPS+) in 611 trips to the plate. He still has a little time to reach double digit homers, but Mitchell has recorded 33 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers, and 73 RBIs with 42 walks and 103 strikeouts. The surge of strikeouts has led him to an insane .414 BABIP, a bit higher then his .383 career mark.

The lineup as a whole did well, and even though he bruised his foot on the 14th, John Lawson had a great week as well. He went 12-for-26 with 2 doubles, a triple, 4 RBIs, and 9 runs scored. He won't miss any additional time since we have an off day today, so he'll be fully healthy for the rest of the week. Freddie Jones also had a big week, 8-for-22 with a double, triple, homer, and six runs scored. Rich Langton went 11-for-30 with a double, triple, 2 homers, 7 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Ray Ford was 12-for-30 with 3 doubles, a homer, 9 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. The catching duo was back to a good week, 9-for-28 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 10 RBIs. The centerfielders, however, didn't have any luck, 6-for-31 with 3 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Billy Hunter was the only hitter without any luck, just 4-for-25 with two runs scored and driven in.

Our starting pitching was beyond awful, and really the only good pitching performance was Rusty Watts relief outing. He came in after Milt Fritz went 3 with 7 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), 2 walks, and a strikeout. Watts then earned the win, six shutout innings with 5 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Fritz's first start was luckily better, 7 hits, a run, and a walk in a complete game win, also effective, but his week was ruined by the poor start against Cleveland. Cy Sullivan had two rough starts, 15 innings combined with 21 hits, 10 runs, 8 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Harry Parker got a win, but was an out away from a complete game. He allowed 9 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. Even Lonardo really struggled, 15 hits, 7 runs, and a walk in 5.2 innings pitched. Same goes for Lyons, who allowed 7 hits, 5 runs, and 4 walks with just a single strikeout in a complete game loss. Peter the Heater was sabotaged by an Ollie Page error, which led to a Bob Smith grand slam with all four runs unearned. He did pitch two other games, going 4.1 with 3 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week before two hosting the Cannons. At 57-78, they are almost twenty games behind the Foresters. They have a few new adds to the roster, including waiver claim starter Walter Murphy. The Orland Park native has made six starts and two relief appearances, going 3-2 with a 4.83 ERA (88 ERA+), 1.54 WHIP, 18 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched. We'll likely see him, and potentially rookie Paul Richardson. He debuted last year, but the former 15th Round Pick made his first two starts this season, and they couldn't have been any different. The first was against the Stars, where he couldn't get out of the fourth and allowed 9 hits, 10 runs (9 earned), and 3 walks. The second was much better, an 8-hit, 4-walk shutout of the Saints. If not him, we'll get Rusty Petrick, who has really had a rough 1939. After going 12-15 with a 3.64 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 159 walks, and 130 strikeouts in 269.1 innings pitched, he won't come anywhere close that inning count this year. In 17 starts and 12 relief outings, he is 5-11 with 3 saves, a 6.41 ERA (66 ERA+), 1.87 WHIP, 89 walks, and 69 strikeouts. Another guy enduring a rough season is Ken Mayhugh, who has hit just .270/.333/.354 (79 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, and 66 RBIs. An interesting add to the lineup is former Cougar Pete Asher, but he's barely hitting his weight, at a .205/.239/.295 (38 OPS+) line with two doubles, a triple, and seven driven in. I do think we should win both of these games, and it could help move us up to third place.

The next series will be much tougher, a three game set with the Stars. Us beating the Foresters help them get closer to Cleveland, now just 3.5 games out. The Stars have the CA leader in strikeouts, George Philips, who was 14-13 with a 4.19 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 124 walks, and 113 strikeouts in a career high 275 innings pitched. Last season in 30 starts (34 this year), he only managed 211.1 innings pitched, and what first looked like a lack of stamina may have been an ill informed pitch count. And after four complete games last season, he's up to a league high 21. Close to his 113 strikeouts is ace Billy Riley, who is 16-12 with a 3.89 ERA (110 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 76 walks, and 108 strikeouts in his breakout season. I'm hoping to see Chuck Cole instead, who has had a tough season in New York. He's just 4-8 with a 5.32 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.61 WHIP, 63 walks, and 58 strikeouts in 16 starts and 8 relief outings. Bill Barrett is back in the lineup, and they missed his .280/.388/.462 (118 OPS+) batting line. He added in 12 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, and 52 RBIs with 50 walks and 14 strikeouts. Dave Trowbridge is chugging along strong, slashing .343/.432/.491 (137 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 4 triples, 13 homers, and 91 RBIs with 75 walks and 32 strikeouts. Moxie Pidgeon is approaching 20 homers, but his .303/.355/.445 (105 OPS+) line has continued to drop towards the average. He has 18 doubles, 19 homers, and 85 RBIs in his first season with the Stars. This will be a tough series, but we could either really help the Stars in their pennant chance or help secure another one for Cleveland.

We start the first half of a two game set with the Kings to finish the week. At 62-71, the reigning CA champs have fallen behind the Wolves, ahead of just Baltimore in the standings now. The Kings have added some new faces to the lineup, with former lottery pick Joe Herman batting above the struggling Al Wheeler. Herman turns 24 on the 26th, and has hit an impressive .364/.420/.602 (157 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, and 32 RBIs in 131 plate appearances. About half of his appearances have been starts, but he's done everything he can to show he deserves to hold onto the spot. They've also placed Tiny Tim Hopkins at first, but in his 75 trips to the plate he's hit a paltry .250/.301/.309 (55 OPS+) with a double, homer, and six RBIs. Former Cougar prospect Stumpy Beaman hasn't had a great start to his King career, 2-6 with a 5.26 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.95 WHIP, 40 walks, and 17 strikeouts in 10 starts and 3 pen outings. We need to win both games, but even with the tough season, I can't underestimate the Kings.

Minor League Report
1B Marv Smith (AA Mobile Commodores): It's been a nice month for Smith, who has gotten a hit in each of his September games so far, leading to a nice 20 game hit streak. A natural outfielder, Smith has played almost exclusively first base this season, as we have a ton of corner outfield options and very few at first. Most of his hits have been singles, but he's boosted his season line from .254/.354/.381 to .316/.412/.437 (124 OPS+) up in 54 games in AA. 25 in November, Smith has added 6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 6 steals, and 32 RBIs with 35 walks to 12 strikeouts. He's actually been better up in Mobile then Lincoln, showing a patient approach to the plate and he's adept at drawing walks. He also has a knack for making contact, likely hitting for a high average his entire career. The lefty hitter has a chance to develop into a capable pinch hitter, and with a little more pop, he could develop into much more. After 10 homers last season, he's up to 16 this season, but I'm not sure if this will last in the big leagues. He does hit a lot of flyballs, which will work well in our park, and OSA thinks he could force his way into a lineup.

SS Skipper Schneider (AA Mobile Commodores): Not only did Leo Mitchell take home Player of the Week, and former Cougar Ivan Cameron took home the honor in the Fed, but our first rounder took it in the Dixie League! Mobile may be out of the postseason, but it wasn't because of Skipper. He hit an even .500 with 5 runs and 7 RBIs to boost his season line to .352/.382/.476 (125 OPS+). He hasn't hit a homer yet, but he's added 12 doubles, 3 triples, 3 steals, and 23 RBIs in his first 159 pro plate appearances. He's also been stupendous at short, already a 16.6 zone rating and 1.146 efficiency. He doesn't turn 19 until October, and could potentially debut next season as a teen. The hard worker has shown the talent to be a defensive marvel in the field with a quick bat at the plate. Sometimes he has struggles with off-speed stuff, but that's something he'll adjust to with more reps. Ranked 39th in the league and 3rd in our system, he just passed Hal Wood, and is our most developed infield prospect. Hal Wood may spend a little time at short before Skipper, but I think he'll be our long-term shortstop, eventually pushing Billy Hunter to third once John Lawson is ready to call it quits. Of course, Lawson has showed no signs of slowing down, so Skipper may have to wait a few seasons before turning into a full time regular.

RHP Ray McNeill (A Lincoln Legislators): It was another good outing in Lincoln for Ray McNeill, who tossed a 6-hit, 5-strikeout shutout of the Cedar Rapids Chiefs, as the Legislators silenced them 10-0. It was his 10th start of the season here, and he went 5-3 with a 3.22 ERA (167 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 9 walks, and 32 strikeouts. Thanks to an untimely torn labrum of Art Saunders, who of course I jinxed last report, McNeill will return to Mobile. Our former 7th Rounder hasn't had much success with the Commodores, 2-5 with a 5.34 ERA (86 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 14 walks, and 25 strikeouts in 55.2 innings pitched. Unless he throws a few more shutouts in the last week of the minor league season, his stint in Mobile will be his first below average season in terms of ERA+, and his first stint with an ERA above 4. McNeill does have a reliable six pitch arsenal, and even though none of the pitches are that great, he can locate them really well. His best pitch may be his mid 80s fastball, but he reminds me a bit of a Dave Rankin type pitcher, a lot of pitches, but none of them that are all that great. OSA is a big fan, thinking he can turn into a back end rotation arm, but I'm not yet convinced. He did have a little injury this season, but McNeill has stayed healthy and he could turn into a reliable arm for a team that needs a stable presence.

ayaghmour2 · 11-16-2021, 05:18 PM

Weekly Record: 4-2
Seasonal Record: 73-68 (4th, 7.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Ray Ford : 22 AB, 10 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.357 OPS
Rich Langton : 23 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 10 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.201 OPS
Jim Lonardo : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, 1.50 ERA

Schedule
9-19: Win vs Cannons (0-6)
9-20: Win vs Cannons (7-9)
9-21: Loss vs Stars (7-6)
9-22: Loss vs Stars (17-4)
9-23: Win vs Stars (3-6)
9-24: Win vs Kings (1-12)

Recap
If you ignore the awful loss against the Stars, we actually had a pretty impressive week! Sure, losing 17-4 sucks a lot, but we won all the games against the Cannons and crushed the Kings, so even with the Stars taking two of three from us, we managed to improve our record. We didn't make up any ground in the standings, and seven and a half is a ton of games to make up. We are getting closer and closer to securing a record above .500, so that's good, but still a disappointing end to the season none the less.

It was a week to remember for Jim Lonardo, who started the week with a 5-hit, 2-strikeout, 78 pitch shutout of the Cannons as we won 6-0. He then pitched on short rest against the Stars, allowing 9 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in a 6-3 win over the Stars. That win was a landmark for Lonardo, his 200th career win! One more win would put him 45th all time, and he could potentially reach the top 20 with 70 more wins. He's been an excellent pitcher his whole career, as the former 10th Rounder has exceeded all expectations. In 391 career appearances, he started 385 of them, currently 200-143 with a 3.62 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 619 walks, and 1,128 strikeouts in over 3,000 big league innings. He was a four time 20-game winner, led the league in strikeouts and WHIP in 1930 and 1931, BB/9 five times, and WAR twice. His WAR currently sits at 69.7, he was selected to 3-All Star Games, and he won 4 Allen Awards. Even at 35, he's still more then effective on the mound, and I think we'll get a few more good seasons out of him.

Dick Lyons was our other two start starter, and he had one awful start and one great start. Lyons won both, but struggled with the Cannons, allowing 11 hits, 7 runs, and a walk with 2 strikeouts in an out away from a compete game. He then kept the Kings in check, just a single run with 5 hits, 3 walks, and a strikeout in a complete game win. That's a complete game in three of his last four starts, as the 39-year-old has now thrown 241 innings, and is on pace for a career high 257.2. Milt Fritz and Harry Parker both had awful starts against the Stars. Fritz has been cold, allowing 7 hits, 8 runs, and a walk with a strikeout in 4.1 innings pitched. Parker was a bit better, 12 hits, 7 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts with 3 homers in 6.1 innings pitched. That's 33 homers on the season for Parker, tied with Jake DeYoung for most in baseball, 10 more above anyone else. Not sure how DeYoung does it, a .805 and .738 home run factor in his home park, much lower then the 1.1118 and 1.109 Parker has to deal with. Rusty Watts was crushed in his one pen outing, 8 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), 3 walks, and a strikeout in an inning and two thirds.

Ray Ford had a huge week, adding 5 more RBIs to his second best 102. He went 10-for-22 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 4 walks, and 10 runs scored. The 28-year-old has followed up an outstanding 1938 with a great 1939, slashing .335/.393/.507 (135 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 6 triples, 15 homers, and 82 runs scored. Rich Langton had an outstanding week of his own, knocking in 10 while finishing 10-for-23 with 2 doubles, a triple, homer, steal, and 3 runs scored. Freddie Jones is working on a 20 game hit streak, 9-for-24 with a double, triple, 2 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. No homer this week, but he has 11 on the season, his new career high. He didn't quite hit peak Jones level, but his .315/.399/.465 (126 OPS+) batting line has been very helpful for our lineup. Double play partner Billy Hunter was a similar 9-for-22 with 2 runs and 5 RBIs. Leo Mitchell continued to push up his average, 7-for-22 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Aart MacDonald had what feels like his first good week, 7-for-22 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, 6 runs, and 6 walks. Our catching platoon really struggled, a hit a piece in 22 trips to the plate. Taylor's was a double, adding a run and 3 RBI with a lot of outs.

Looking Ahead
After a 12-1 win against Brooklyn, it's only fitting if the now eliminated Kings finish the series with a dominant win of their own. We'll see Jack Goff, who is 7-6 with a 3.33 ERA (130 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 58 walks, and 26 strikeouts in 119 innings pitched. Al Wheeler is still having some issues, hitting just .254/.340/.419 (92 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 3 triples, 19 homers, and 75 RBIs in what will be his first below average season at the plate. Another guy struggling is former Cougar Fred Barrell, who has hit just .244/.315/.329 (64 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homers, and 46 RBIs. I'm not sure if Fred will rebound next season, but I'd wager a lot that Al Wheeler will be back to the Wonder Wheel next season, and Brooklyn will be right back in it. Or maybe they finally send Wheeler back to his home state of Illinois!

Our homestand then comes to an end with three against the Saints. At 71-70, they are trying to finish over .500 for the first time since 1930. I mentioned DeYoung's homer troubles earlier, as it's been the major reason for his poor season. He's 13-14 with a 5.49 ERA (79 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 36 walks, and 106 strikeouts. And while he's listed as the ace, the ace has been rookie Bill Stewart, who is 8-3 with a 3.66 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 50 walks, and 77 strikeouts in 21 impressive starts. Bill Ross has maintained his rotation spot, but it's been tough for the former Cougar, who is 8-10 with a 4.86 ERA (90 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 24 walks, and 43 strikeouts across 176 innings pitched. Rookie and personal favorite of mine Spud Bent has started to get more time in the lineup, and has hit .344/.463/.625 (173 OPS+) with a double, triple, two homers, and 12 RBIs in 42 trips to the plate. Red Bond has surpassed the 20 homer mark, hitting .331/.402/.512 (130 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 2 triples, 21 homers, and 90 RBIs in another excellent season at the plate. Adam Mullins is trying to reach double digit homers, batting .317/.418/.445 (118 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 2 triples, 9 homers, and 87 RBIs with an impressive 85-to-7 walk-to-strikeout ratio. I'm hoping we can keep our nice little run going, and keep the Saints behind us.

We then hit the road for three with the Wolves before a potentially needed off day. Sure they have Fred McCormick and an outstanding top three of their rotation, but the real story of the season has been Walt Pack! The Wolves dropped from second to sixth, but Walt's breakout has been huge for their future. He is hitting an elite .358/.428/.565 (149 OPS+) with 19 doubles, a triple, 10 homers, and 46 RBIs. He gets to hit right above McCormick, who is flirting with .400 yet again. He's slashing .393/.491/.671 (191 OPS+) with 11 steals, 39 doubles, 12 triples, 27 homers, and 116 RBIs with 109 walks and just 35 strikeouts. On the mound, Joe Hancock has continued his best season, 15-12 with a 3.16 ERA (138 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, 69 walks, and 116 strikeouts while being worth over 7 wins above replacement. Behind him is Bernie Johnson, 10-14 with a 3.42 ERA (127 ERA+), 1.37 WHIP, 57 walks, and 64 strikeouts in his breakout season. Bob Walls continued like he did with the Wolves after his midseason trade, 15-10 with a 3.57 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 93 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 229.1 decent innings. The Wolves turned things around in August, but I'm hoping we get the 8-17 July Wolves instead!

Minor League Report
The minor league season is over, and while I expect a nice big minor league report over the weekend, all of our farm teams finished above .500! Somehow, Lincoln blew their lead, and ended up tied with Terre Haute and Mobile finished 10 back, but Milwaukee, La Crosse, and San Jose all won pennants. Milwaukee managed to win 98 and San Jose 99, both with .700 win percentages. This allowed me three callups to fill up the roster, and I went with Freddie Bennett, Larry Robison, and Del Burns. Bennett will be used as a defensive replacement, Robison a pinch runner, and Burns will finish the season as our 5th starter.

Starting with Bennett, he didn't hit much in Milwaukee, hitting just .253/.314/.362 (72 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 9 triples, 4 homers, 15 steals, and 54 RBIs in 474 trips to the plate. In the field, he had an outstanding 38.3 zone rating and 1.202 efficiency. Robison, 25, is going to be set to make his big league debut after hitting .328/.399/.478 (123 OPS+) in his first full season with the Blues. He added 37 doubles, 5 triples, 7 homers, 36 steals, and 82 RBIs in 520 plate appearances. Burns was the 3rd Overall Pick in the 1934 draft, and is also making his big league debut, with a start against the Kings. The skinny 6'2'' righty was 11-3 with a 4.10 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 43 walks, and 126 strikeouts in 160.1 innings for the Blues. He sits consistently in the 95-97 range with his fastball and cutter, two of five strong big league pitches. He has an excellent forkball, decent slider, and average change to go with, and he gets plenty of movement on his pitches. Weinstock thinks he'll turn into a #2, OSA a middle rotation arm, and the prospect rankings have him 8th and 93rd respectively. I can't see him getting more then three or so starts, but it will be nice to get a quick peak at another potential quality big league arm.

ayaghmour2 · 11-17-2021, 02:13 PM

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 77-71 (4th, 7 GB)
Stars of the Week
John Lawson : 27 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .407 AVG, 1.108 OPS
Rich Langton : 31 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 8 RBI, .355 AVG, .891 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 31 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .323 AVG, .944 OPS

Schedule
9-25: Loss vs Kings (2-0)
9-26: Loss vs Saints (5-2)
9-27: Win vs Saints (2-9)
9-28: Loss vs Saints (8-5)
9-29: Win vs Wolves (9-2)
9-30: Win vs Wolves (7-6): 12 innings
10-1: Win vs Wolves (4-3)

Recap
Another 4 win week! That's our new thing! Well, just six games left in the regular season, and since we are seven games out, that means we officially cannot make the postseason. Since we have 77 wins, even if we lose the rest of our games, we'll finish an even .500. A disappointing season none the less, but at least we can't finish below .500! And we swept the Wolves! With two one run wins! The biggest news of the week, however, had nothing to do with wins and losses, it was all about John Lawson! He was just 1-for-3 in our 4-3 win, but that one hit (a single) was a monumental one for Lawson; his 2,500th career hit. "Jack the Ripper" did it in 8,029 plate appearances, and has hit an outstanding .345/.398/.508 (144 OPS+) with 458 doubles, 40 triples, 214 homers, and 1,301 RBIs. This year has technically been his worst in terms of OPS+, but his .324/.390/.487 (128 OPS+) line is still well above average, and he added 32 doubles, 3 triples, 20 homers, and 98 RBIs.

Lawson had the best week on the offense, 11-for-27 with a homer and 5 RBIs, but he did have a little help. Mike Taylor had a nice win, 8-for-19 with 3 doubles and 4 RBIs. Rich Langton was 11-for-31 with a double, 2 triples, a steal, 4 runs, and 8 RBIs. Leo Mitchell was 10-for-31 with 5 doubles, a homer, 5 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Ford, Jones, and Hunter all struggled, combining to go 19-for-84, although Jones and Ford both homered.

Del Burns had a pair of good starts to kick off his big league career, but he'll still be looking for his first big league win. His first start was a complete game with 7 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts, but he was tagged with the loss. His second was in our 7-6 win over the Wolves, but he went just seven in the no decision. He allowed 11 hits, 6 runs (3 earned), and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts. He'll get just one more start before the season ends, and he'll have a chance to earn a starting role out of camp next season. Harry Parker tossed a pair of complete games, a loss to the Saints and a win against the Wolves. He allowed 15 hits, 8 runs, and 8 walks with 8 strikeouts. On the season, he's made 29 starts, and will hit 30 for hopefully the first of many times in a long career. Dick Lyons had another good start, 8.1 innings with 3 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks to improve to 12-14. Jim Lonardo was a bit unlucky in his start, 11 hits, 6 runs (2 earned), and 2 strikeouts in an 8 inning loss. Milt Fritz had a bad start, but got the win, 8 innings with 8 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He's likely to finish the season with a below average ERA+, but he hit double digit wins (13) for the fourth time as a Cougar.

Lastly, Bill Ashbaugh officially announced his retirement from baseball. He didn't play in the big leagues this season, but got 112 plate appearances in Newark and three more in Milwaukee. The 35-year-old will end his career with a .307/.373/.485 (135 OPS+) batting line with 185 doubles, 113 triples, 136 homers, 86 steals, and 814 RBIs. I'm hoping he takes the managerial route, and would love to add him to our staff. He was my first draft pick, and if it wasn't for injuries, probably would have been a long time Cougar star. Instead, his peak ended at 29, and all his full seasons were good at the plate.

Looking Ahead
We get our last off day of the season before our last road game of the season. We get three with the Sailors, who are 78-70 and just one day away from being eliminated just like we were. Doc Newell turned things around a little, now 15-9 with a 4.64 ERA (94 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 80 walks, and 62 strikeouts in what could be another 250 inning season. Herb Flynn won't hit that mark, but his 235.1 innings have been much more effective. He's 15-14 with a 3.86 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 99 walks, and 77 strikeouts. The offense has been a bit better, including Joe Watson, who is having a nice little breakout. He's hit .349/.416/.535 (138 OPS+) with 42 doubles, 17 triples, 10 homers, and 87 RBIs. Dick Walker set a career best 124 walks, while hitting .266/.401/.440 (112 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 13 triples, 14 homers, 24 steals, and 75 RBIs in another complete season. Woody Stone is in striking distance of 100 RBIs, hitting .327/.370/.441 (104 OPS+) with 38 doubles, 4 homers, and 94 RBIs. Bob Smith is a homer away from double digits again, hitting a decent .303/.391/.437 (108 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 9 homers, and 80 RBIs. It was a decent season for the Sailors, and while third was where most people predicted them to finish, it was thought they'd be closer to first and second then they ended up.

We finish at home, with a three game series with the 68-80 Wolves. Fred McCormick might not hit .400, but his .394/.494/.668 (191 OPS+) batting line is easily the best in the league. He added in 39 doubles, 13 triples, 11 steals, 28 homers, 119 RBIs, and 116 walks while being worth almost 9 wins above replacement. Yes, I know I should have traded for him, but I don't think I could get over trading Harry Parker. Former Cougar draftee Reginald Westfall has started to turn things around, hitting .324/.416/.448 (118 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 5 homers, and 66 RBIs. George Garrison has been pitching better too, despite his 7-12 record. His 4.06 ERA (107 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 64 walks, and 70 strikeouts are nice for a guy who will turn 22 later in October, and I know next year he's going to get even better. I'd love to sweep them yet again, but as long as we at least split the week, I'll be happy.

ayaghmour2 · 11-18-2021, 01:39 PM

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 82-72 (3rd, 5 GB)
Stars of the Week
John Lawson : 29 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .414 AVG, 1.054 OPS
Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 1 Saves, 5.0 IP, 1 BB, 10 K, 0.00 ERA
Leo Mitchell : 27 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .407 AVG, .947 OPS

Schedule
10-3: Win at Sailors (4-1)
10-4: Win at Sailors (7-6)
10-5: Win at Sailors (6-4)
10-6: Win vs Wolves (6-9)
10-7: Loss vs Wolves (4-1): 12 innings
10-8: Win vs Wolves (1-3)

Recap
Save the best for last I guess... We worked up a win streak of seven games, finishing the week 5-1, and ending the season ten games over .500. Third place is kind of nice, and the second time we've finished their in the last three seasons. It is also our fourth consecutive season above .500, and I'm hoping the fifth one ends up with us in first place. I really think we threw away this season, no one in the CA really wanted to win the division, and the Stars took the league with just 87 wins. I'm hoping that next season we can end up in first, but I know that I'm going to have to do something in the offseason to improve the roster.

Jim Lonardo had an outstanding last week, tossing a pair of 1-run complete game wins against the Sailors and Wolves. He allowed 15 hits and 5 walks with 10 strikeouts, finishing his Cougar time 12-8 and his whole season record of 15-13 with a 3.39 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 65 walks, and 90 strikeouts in 276.1 innings pitched. It was his third highest inning count of his career, and the 35-year-old showed that age hasn't yet caught up to him. Same goes for Dick Lyons, although his start wasn't nearly as good as most of his others from this season. He allowed 12 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), and 2 walks, but was given the win to finish just 13-14. He won't win the Allen again, but he was worth five wins above average with a 3.67 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 51 walks, and 54 strikeouts. It's a longshot, but if he wins 18 games next season, he'll have 200 for his career, and he could still be effective at 40. Harry Parker made an impressive 12 inning start, but we should have taken him out after 11. Three of his four runs came in the 12th, and he allowed just 5 hits and 5 walks with 7 strikeouts. Peter the Heater struck out 10 in 5 innings out of the pen, winning two games to improve to 10-10, and despite being awful in the rotation, he finished with a 4.57 ERA (91 ERA+), 1.56 WHIP, 92 walks, and 126 strikeouts in as many innings. It may have seemed like our pitching sucked this season, but we allowed the second fewest runs in the CA, ranked top four in most stats, and no lower then six in any category.

John Lawson finished his season strong, 12-for-29 with 3 doubles, a homer, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. That was his 21st homer and 103rd RBI, and Lawson finished with a near identical .328/.391/.494 (134 OPS+) triple slash from last season. Leo Mitchell reached double digits for homers, hitting his 10th in a 11-for-27 week with 4 runs and 6 RBIs. Billy Hunter sprained his knee, but still went 8-for-23 with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 runs, and an RBI. Our centerfield duo worked well, with Aart MacDonald 3-for-13 with a double, triple, 2 RBIs, 5 runs, and 2 steals. Orlin Yates was 2-for-6 with 4 walks and a run scored. Our offense did well overall, finishing first in slugging, OPS, WAR, wOBA, runs, hits, extra base hits, and homers, while second in average and OBP. You would think the most runs scored and second fewest allowed would lead to a first place finish, but we found away to blow that...

ayaghmour2 · 11-19-2021, 03:36 PM

The Stars are currently two wins away from a championship, but we'll take a look at each of our minor league clubs, including three teams with a championship of their own. I imagine writing a variety of pieces the next couple of days, ideally an Amateur Report, The Cougars that Never Were, and potentially an End of the Season Review before the season ends and I'll be able to start on our top prospect list.

AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 98-42 (.700)
Milwaukee has had a lot of success in the last few seasons, securing back-to-back pennants and in four of the las six seasons. The pitching was outstanding, ranking first in each category except walks (2nd) and strikeouts (3rd) while they were tied for least homers allowed. The ace of the staff was "El Conejo" Juan Pomales, who finished a team best 15-6 with a 3.84 ERA (131 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 38 walks, and 99 strikeouts in 171 innings pitched. Pomales did an excellent job lowering his walks and increasing his strikeouts, all while maintaining similar ERAs and WHIPs. Of course, he also hits and fields well, slashing .310/.397/.458 (117 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 10 triples, 9 homers, 23 steals, and 65 RBIs with efficiencies of 1.065, 1.011, and 1.064 in left, center, and right. This might be his last full season in the minors, and I expect Pomales to try and take the right field job out of camp next season.

Del Burns also had a decent season in Milwaukee before his promotion, finishing 11-3 with a 4.10 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 43 walks, and 126 strikeouts in 160.1 innings. Like Pomales, he dropped his walks and increased his strikeouts. He was worth almost a full five wins above replacement with help from his lowest minor league WHIP and highest K/9. Lefty Walker Pearce had a breakout season, 14-8 with a 4.01 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 51 walks, and 74 strikeouts in 179.2 innings pitched. He did have 13 less effective Milwaukee starts last season, and he looks to have earned a 40-man roster spot. He has the tools to start, a polished sinker, slider, change mix, but I think his future may end up in the pen. He'll look to take Cal Knight's roster spot, but my scout thinks Pearce is the best reliever in our system. Pug Bryan and Joe Brown both spent about half the season in Milwaukee, but Pug was good and Brown was not. Pug was 5-2 with a 3.48 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 35 walks, and 39 strikeouts in 64.1 innings pitched, but Brown was 7-3 with a 5.04 ERA (100 ERA+), 1.51 WHIP, 15 walks, and 54 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched. Neither pitched well, and both will need to secure a roster spot next season as they are out of options.

The offense had a lot of top hitters, including 40-man players Johnny Waters and Bobby Mills. Waters hit .358/.417/.524 (139 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 12 homers, and 79 RBIs while Mills slashed .340/.414/.596 (155 OPS+) with 35 doubles, 2 triples, 19 homers, and 99 RBIs. Larry Robison had a nice little breakout, slashing .328/.399/.478 (123 OPS+) with 37 doubles, 5 triples, 7 homers, 36 steals, and 82 RBIs. John Johnson got his first taste of AAA, and the 25-year-old center fielder hit .285/.389/.452 (114 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 6 triples, 10 homers, 14 steals, and 46 RBIs. Hal Wood also had a successful first try, batting .324/.405/.429 (112 OPS+) with 13 doubles, a triple, 4 homers, 3 steals, and 51 RBIs while getting some time at second and third while Freddie Bennett was at short. We had a lot of good offensive production from a group of what should be a lot of productive regulars.

AA Mobile Commodores (Dixie League): 79-61(.564)
The only team of ours not to finish at least tied for first place, the Commodores kept up the trend of being the worst Cougar farm team. We did have the best rotation in the league, led by 22-year-old southpaw Harl Haines. He made 16 of his 23 starts in Mobile, going 11-5 with a 2.84 ERA (163 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 31 walks, and 68 strikeouts in 133 strong innings pitched. Former 2nd Rounder Doc Smith had one more start and 147.1 innings pitched, going 11-4 with a 3.60 ERA (128 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 59 walks, and 59 strikeouts. Art Saunders was effective when healthy, 10-2 with a 2.64 ERA (175 ERA+), 1.04 WHIP, 14 walks, and 59 strikeouts in 119.1 innings pitched. Johnny Ruby split his time between Mobile and Lincoln, 7-5 in 13 starts with a 4.10 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 48 walks, and 59 strikeouts. Johnnie Jones started his Cougar career in Mobile, but "The Patron Saint of Groundballs" has been roughed up in his nine starts. He was an even 4-4 with a 6.60 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.60 WHIP, 22 walks, and 20 strikeouts.

The offense wasn't great, I had a handful of guys who may have been a level high, plus they lost the biggest piece of the offense in Chubby Hall midseason. He it an outstanding .399/.455/.592 (174 OPS+) with 16 doubles, a triple, 8 homers, and 36 RBIs. Skipper Schneider only got into 44 games because of the draft and the injury, but he hit an impressive .349/.387/.509 (134 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homers, 3 steals, and 31 RBIs in just under 200 trips to the plate. Tony Mullis spent half his season in Mobile too, hitting .313/.365/.436 (110 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 8 triples, 5 steals, and 46 RBIs. Same for Marv Smith, who hit .319/.415/.435 (124 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 7 steals, and 35 RBIs. Hal Wood hit a similar .310/.375/.464 (120 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 8 triples, 2 homers, and 38 RBIs. Mobile won the league in 1933 and 1936 and hasn't finished below third in a season since 1932, but I'm hoping we'll be able to get over the hump shortly.

A Lincoln Legislators (Heartland League): 83-57 (.592)
A 10-14 September capped off with a late four game sweep by the Terre Haute Brewers who came back to tie us for first, Lincoln will own a share of the 1939 Heartland League title. They won the title last year too, but it was the first time since 1927. Lincoln didn't have any qualified hitters, as the team saw a lot of movement. Jocko Pollard had a huge season for them, slashing .330/.384/.571 (132 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 2 triples, 21 homers, and 102 RBIs. Chick Browning spent most of his season as Pollard's teammate, batting .328/.397/.532 (127 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 2 triples, 14 homers, and 60 RBIs in just shy of 400 PAs. This years 6th Rounder Arnie Scurlock spent most of his time in Lincoln, hitting .346/.414/.447 (112 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 4 steals, and 29 RBIs. Tony Mullis came close to .400 in his 278 Lincoln PAs, hitting .387/.450/.512 (136 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, and 41 RBIs.

We allowed the fewest amount of runs in a hitter friendly league where a 4.71 team ERA was also the best. Ray Wilcox was the only qualified pitcher, going 12-7 with a 5.23 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 48 walks, and 84 strikeouts in 151.1 innings pitched. Ray McNeil finished the season in Mobile, but his Lincoln numbers were better. He was 5-3 with a 3.22 ERA (166 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 9 walks, and 32 strikeouts in his 10 starts. Same goes for Johnny Ruby, who was 5-3 with a 3.66 ERA (147 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 37 walks, and 65 strikeouts in his 11 starts. Billy Seawood spent time with both San Jose and Mobile as well, but he had more innings (85) with the Legislators then the other two spots combined. Seawood was 6-4 with a 3.60 ERA (149 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, 24 walks, and 32 strikeouts. I'm hoping we can hold first on our own next season, but I think if I just held a few more guys down, Lincoln would have been the sole recipient of first place.

B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 99-41 (.707)
One more win and the Cougars would have won 100 games! No, not the Chicago one... The much better San Jose Cougars! San Jose led the league in nearly offensive and pitching category, but didn't have a single qualifier for hitters or pitchers. Hod Seagroves really came along this season, hitting .334/.417/.454 (131 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 3 steals, and 62 RBIs while spending his time split between first and second. Chick Browning only got 30 games there, but his .398/.492/.743 (224 OPS+) line complimented by 5 doubles, 2 triples, 10 homers, and 35 RBIs. Sammy Dillon got a few more games, 51 to his name, and hit .272/.415/.462 (132 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 8 homers, and 32 RBIs. Former 6th Rounder Harry Avery had a breakout season, hitting an impressive .315/.463/.486 (151 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 9 homers, 16 steals, and 65 RBIs while getting significant time at second, third, and first. Danny Goff Jr. spent most of his time after the draft in San Jose, and hit .338/.432/.461 (136 OPS+) with 11 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, 5 steals, and 30 RBIs at the plate, while 5-1 with a 4.62 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.89 WHIP, 34 walks, and 19 strikeouts.

Other starters like Boney Joe Crosby had better seasons on the mound, 8-5 with a 3.32 ERA (147 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 37 walks, and 55 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched. Oliver Allen was a perfect 10-0 after a 6-0 in La Crosse, working to a 3.52 ERA (139 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 27 walks, and 39 strikeouts. Willie Gonzalez Jr. had 13 excellent starts of his own, 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA (184 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 27 walks, and 43 strikeouts across 71.1 innings pitched. Lefty John Johnson was 8-4 with a 4.01 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.59 WHIP, 51 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 94.1 innings pitched. Ed Wilkinson started his season with the Cougars, and did better there then in Lincoln, 8-2 with a 3.77 ERA (129 ERA+), 1.22 WHIP, 23 walks, and 59 strikeouts in half of his 24 starts on the season. The Baby Cougars have now won three of the last four C-O-W League Titles, and this was their best season yet.

C La Crosse Lions (Upper Mississippi Valley Association): 90-50 (.643)
La Crosse had one of the best offenses in the league, and while a lot of their talent kept moving up, they had a few reliable bats who lasted the entire season. 19-year-old Solly Skidmore missed some time with injury, but hit a strong .342/.419/.484 (109 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 11 homers, and 72 RBIs in just shy of 400 plate appearances. Harry Carr hit .335/.397/.478 (102 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 7 triples, 11 homers, 58 RBIs, and 44 steals. Jasper Wright spent most time out in center while slashing .320/.442/.467 (111 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 12 triples, 7 homers, 37 steals, and 62 RBIs. Max Rucker spent about half his season with the Lions, batting .355/.405/.573 (125 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 13 homers, 10 steals, and 62 RBIs. There weren't too many guys who stood out from the pack in the lineup, but there wasn't a real weak spot and each of the players could help extend an inning.

It was tough to be a good pitcher in C ball, as Ron Sexton's 5.91 ERA was actually 5 points better then the adjusted league average. He was the lone qualifier, as the 19-year-old we acquired from Pittsburgh finished 11-7 with a 1.72 WHIP, 66 walks, and 55 strikeouts in 163 innings pitched. Oliver Allen made just 8 starts, but was 6-0 with a stunning 2.72 ERA (228 ERA+), 1.11 WHIP, 15 walks, and 37 strikeouts in an out shy of 50 innings. Willie Gonzalez Jr. looked good too, 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA (160 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 17 walks, and 32 strikeouts through 60.1 innings. After just one start last season and fresh off injury recovery, Gonzalez did an outstanding job getting back on track. There was a lot of turnover, 30 different pitchers throwing an inning for the Lions, and I expect that trend to continue with the midseason drafts.

ayaghmour2 · 11-20-2021, 04:53 PM

Somewhat shockingly, the New York Stars swept the heavily favored Pittsburgh Miners in the World Championship Series, as Dave Trowbridge hit .600 against the team that once traded him to New York. This means the offseason will commence on Monday, and we will reach closer to the December Draft, much quicker then expected.

C Tucker Ness
School: Boston State
1939: .292/.412/.404, 201 PA, 9 2B, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 2 SB
Career (HS): .411/.481/.598, 428 PA, 39 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 91 RBI, 15 SB
Career (COL): .301/.413/.411, 18 2B, 6 HR, 62 RBI, 5 SB

A four year starter in high school, Tucker Ness was one of the impossibles that I decided to let go to college, and he now sends me thank you notes weekly for letting him pursue his education and secure a much higher draft selection. A 14th Rounder back in 1937, Ness was recently ranked 10th in the TWIFB Mock Draft, and I would not be surprised if he is not only a first round pick, but the first catcher selected. Ness has a great feel for the strike zone at the plate, consistently drawing walks and avoiding pitcher's out pitches when they want him to chase. He pairs that with above average contact potential, but there isn't much power yet, gap or home run. He does profile as an above average defender behind the plate as well, and he adapts well in any situation. Ness won't be a target of mine, I like our catching depth as is, but he has all the tools to develop into a top big league catcher.

CF John Graves
School: Detroit City College
1939: .267/.405/.492, 237 PA, 8 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 35 SB
Career (HS): .423/.508/.662, 376 PA, 37 2B, 12 3B, 4 HR, 77 RBI, 69 SB
Career (COL): .279/.409/.480, 494 PA, 17 2B, 8 3B, 16 HR, 84 RBI, 73 SB

Another 14th Round Pick, it was the Keystones who decided to let Graves go to college, and like Ness, their GM gets the thank you notes weekly. Graves ranks a spot above Ness in the TWIFB Mock Draft, and was taken with the pick directly after Ness in 1937. In one of the toughest college leagues, Graves has put up back-to-back .400 OBP seasons and was just a homer shy of 10 as a sophomore. A standout defender out in center, Graves' speed allows him to make most plays on the grass, and he definitely has the talent to stick out in center. He does a great job working the count, and he had an outstanding 44-to-9 walk-to-strikeout ratio this season. He didn't hit for that high of an average this season, but I think with a little work, his hit tool should be well above average as well, and I've liked what he's shown with his power. He seems to have it all, and if the power he's shown in college is legit, Graves should be able to flourish in the big leagues for years to come.

RHP Bill Sohl
School: Lane State
1939: 7-5, 114.2 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 40 BB, 96 K
Career: 14-8, 95 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 71 BB, 173 K

Leading the Lane State rotation for the past two seasons was Billy Sohl, a rather soft tossing righty who can still rack up the strikeouts. He has been rather consistent, putting together similar ERAs, WHIPs, K/9, BB/9, HR/9, and WAR with the Emeralds, and he's shown a rather polished repertoire. His best pitch is a changeup, with OSA remarks as elite, and it pairs really well with his mid 80s fastball. The forkball is probably his second best pitch, but his fourth, a slider, is really just there for show. Still, his top three pitches are really good, and enough to have him start in the big leagues, that he won't have to rely on his slider much at all. He gets plenty of movement and at times shows pinpoint control, giving him average or better in all three important pitching ratings. The stuff is the weak point of the three, but the harder he gets his fastball going, the better the rest of his pitches are. Right now he'll have to rely heavily on that changeup, but I can only imagine how effective it could be if he was throwing in the 90s. OSA thinks he'll be an impact starter, I'm not that sold yet, but he's got a future at least in the middle of a rotation, and with how developed he is, a team desperate for pitching could fast track him to the show.

RHP Tommy Anderson
School: Chesapeake State
1939: 8-3, 102 IP, 2.91 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 44 BB, 91 K
Career: 17-8, 230.2 IP, 2.77 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 81 BB, 207 K

"Tidewater Tommy" has managed to keep his ERA below 3 in his first two seasons, including a 2.66 mark as a Freshman where he struck out 116 batters in just shy of 130 innings pitched. He won't turn 21 until July, but the lanky 6'4'' groundballer already projects to be a really talented big league player. Like Sohl, he doesn't throw very hard, sitting in the 84-86 range, but his four pitches aren't as polished. He can be dominant when he is on, but currently, only his changeup is a reliable pitch. It has huge upside, along with his fastball, cutter, and forkball, and due to his height, I expect he'll start throwing his pitches much harder as he continues to develop. His cutter gets nice bite, and his changeup drops a lot, but he's still yet to master his control over those pitches. This year especially, he had issues with command, walking nearly 4 per 9 in a bit of a down season compared to when he was a Freshman. Regardless, the results were still better then most college arms, and it was against great competition at Chesapeake State. As a league, we like to reach on pitchers, so I can see Anderson being taken a bit earlier then he should, but he's very raw and a rare high ceiling, low floor college arm with a lot more boom-or-bust potential then most.

10-28-2021, 05:21 PM	#641
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 9: June 19th-June 25th Weekly Record: 5-1 Seasonal Record: 30-29 (5th, 3.5 GB) Stars of the Week Freddie Jones : 26 AB, 12 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .462 AVG, 1.210 OPS Carlos Montes : 21 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .381 AVG, 1.219 OPS Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .375 AVG, 1.048 OPS Schedule 6-19: Win vs Cannons (2-11) 6-21: Win vs Saints (5-9) 6-22: Loss vs Saints (10-9) 6-23: Win vs Saints (3-5): 13 innings 6-24: Win vs Kings (0-2) 6-25: Win vs Kings (0-1) Recap So go 5-1 and make up one game, but go 4-3 and make up two? Would it be better to go 4-3? Of course not! An amazing and happy week, and what makes it even better, is Jim Lonardo will not only get to keep his nice Chicago home, but play for the Cougars instead of the Chiefs! Obviously this makes us better, and having a top pitcher like Lonardo can only help. We finished off the Cannons with a sweep, took two of three from the Saints, and then we actually have the chance to sweep the Kings! It was a weird week, half the week we destroyed opposition pitchers, half the week we couldn't hit a lick, but whenever you end up 5-1, you'll accept the 2-0 and 1-0 wins instead of dwelling on the disappearance of offense. Peter the Heater looked like the arm I've always envisioned, tossing a 3-hit shutout in our 1-0 win over the Kings. He walked just 5 and struck out 9, finally dropping his ERA below 5. His 53 strikeouts are now third best in the league, but with the Lonardo acquisition, him and Cy are going to see their starts occur a bit less frequently as the season goes on. I think Pete will be a perfect stopper, but with a week before a Lonardo start, him and Cy have one last chance to hold on. The other shutout came from the one youngster who's actually pitched well, the reliable yet homer friendly Harry Parker. He allowed 5 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 3 in our 2-0 shutout victory over the Kings. That is back-to-back 5-hitters for Parker, who is now an even 5-5 with a 3.84 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, 30 walks, and 38 strikeouts in his 12 starts. Our two start starter was Milt Fritz, who tossed what could be a complete game in both. The first was in our 11-2 win, going all nine with 8 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and a strikeout. The second was in our 5-3 win over a former team, Montreal, but since it went into extras, he didn't pitch the whole game. These nine frames saw 9 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts, to drop his season ERA to an about average 4.34 (97 ERA+). He hasn't looked great, but I have faith that Milt will end up with a nicer ERA once the season ends, as he's a very effective, if somewhat unreliable, rotation arm. The reliable Dick Lyons picked up another win, evening his record to 5-5 as well, going 7.1 with 7 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Cy wasn't as lucky, a no decision in our loss, 6 innings with 7 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and 2 strikeouts. The loss went to Allen Purvis, 3 innings with 5 hits, 3 runs, and a strikeout. He's usually the scoreless one, but both Pug and Brown failed to allow a run despite three walks a piece. They both won't stay on the roster, as Brown will head to Milwaukee as I claimed longtime Cannon Dutch Leverett off waivers. Debuting with them in 1926, he's pitched an inning with them each year sense, 2,110.1 in total split between 250 starts and 166 relief outings. Now 36, Dutch is 114-123 with 31 saves, a 4.61 ERA (90 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 812 walks, and 765 strikeouts, and as a starter, he has six 200+ inning seasons. He'll pitch more mop up for us, but his stay on the roster may very well be short. Not just because of Lonardo, but there is a chance that someone more appealing comes on waivers. Ray Ford returns to the big league club, sending Bobby Mills back down to Milwaukee. He didn't have the greatest success in Ford's absence, just 6-for-25 with a homer, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 5 RBIs. Lucky for us, while Ford was out, Carlos Montes almost hit like him. This week it was 8-for-21 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, 2 homers, and 7 RBIs. The season line still isn't pretty, but he's raised it to .240/.299/.429 (90 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 3 steals, and 25 RBIs. Freddie Jones also had another big week, 12-for-26 with 2 homers, 3 walks, 3 RBIs, and 8 runs scored. This was finally good enough for a Player of the Week, and Jones pushed his season line to .349/.417/.526 (148 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 5 triples, 4 homers, and 24 RBIs with almost double the walks (25) then strikeouts (13). Leo Mitchell boosted his average as well, 9-for-24 with 2 doubles, a homer, 5 RBIs, 4 runs, and 4 walks. John Lawson was 9-for-26 with his 9th homer of the season, as well as 2 doubles, 5 runs, and 6 RBIs. Lastly, the draft was completed, so expect an recap on all the picks a bit later tonight. I have to sign a ton of guys, all in the top five rounds including Jimmy Ballard and Harry Harris of who I selected. For the new players, we have to sign six other prospects, but I'll cover them later. A few draftees that did sign cracked the top 500, including Connie Wright (288th), Arnie Scurlock (376th), and Bob Hobbs (495th). There will be a lot of movement, but we sit with 48 top 500 prospects, although that will drop one with the Jordan trade. Looking Ahead One more with the Kings, who we jumped ahead of and pushed down to 28-31. I doubt we'll shut them out a third time, but we have a shot to score more then two runs off the struggling top prospect Sergio Vergara. Vergara currently ranks as the 10th best prospect in baseball, but the 23-year-old from Juarez is 0-4 with a 7.20 ERA (60 ERA+), 1.91 WHIP, 24 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 6 starts and relief outings. I definitely think he'll turn things around, I just prefer if that happens after we bash his pitches out of Cougars park. Somehow, Brooklyn is 7th in runs scored despite being 2nd (to us) in homers, so hopefully we'll be able to stop them from scoring. Al Wheeler continues to heat up, two more homers to increase his season total to 12. He's hitting an average .263/.343/.455 (102 OPS+) with 5 doubles and 39 RBIs, but each time I look at him, his batting line continues to grow. A win should keep up our momentum, but I can't be too upset with a loss. We welcome the Cannons back to town next, as they've dropped a bit further to 22-39 and 12.5 games out of first. No Barrell means starts for Howie Pike, who is 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA (86 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 9 walks, and 8 strikeouts in 2 starts and 9 relief outings. We'll likely see him, Payne, and Goulding, and Gus is the only one I'm worried about. He's lost his last three starts to fall to 5-8, but his 3.58 ERA (118 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, 32 walks, and 45 strikeouts are all strong metrics. The offense scores more the Brooklyn, but the rest of the offensive starts are much worse. They've had a lot of players struggle, including second basemen Charlie Ross. The first pick of the 1937 draft (after lottery rounds) will probably turn into a very good player, but the 24-year-old is not there yet. He's hitting just .247/.253/.258 (34 OPS+) with a double, walk, and 8 RBIs in his first 91 trips to the plate. His double play partner Charley McCullough's bat has started to freeze, his line dropping to .254/.397/.294 (84 OPS+) with 3 doubles, a triple, 13 RBIs, 29 walks, and 7 strikeouts in 157 PAs. Even worse, easily their best hitter Whit Williams is dealing with a strained oblique, which may make him miss this week. It's day-to-day, but a 3-4 week recovery, could be enough to put him on the DL. In his 60 games, he's slashed an impressive .307/.379/.485 (125 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 7 homers, 8 steals, and 40 RBIs. I like our chances in this series, and while a sweep would do us well, anything less then 2 of 3 would be a failure. We finish the week and homestand with a big three game series against the Stars. We do get an off day after, but the 33-26 Stars will be a huge test, and one that would have been nice to have Lonardo for. The offense is strong, led by veteran outfielder Moxie Pidgeon. He's tied for the most homers in the league (12) by a non-Pestilli, and year one in New York has him hitting .318/.373/.500 (124 OPS+) with 8 doubles and 44 RBIs. The always intriguing Ray Cochran is continuing to excite, hitting .328/.409/.511 (137 OPS+) out of the leadoff spot. He's walked 32 times and struck out just 7 times, while adding 12 doubles, 11 triples, 3 homers, and 21 RBIs. But no one can compare to the 40-year-old Dave Trowbridge, who is still hitting a robust .346/.423/.478 (133 OPS+) with 13 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, and 37 RBIs with nearly twice the walks (30) as doubles (16). The rotation has started to improve as well, as the Stars now have the most strikeouts (237) in the league, and have gotten some quality innings from their youngsters. Billy Riley has turned things around, 6-7 with a 4.15 ERA (103 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 32 walks, and 41 strikeouts in an out less then 100 innings. Chris Clarke has been added to the rotation, and in 3 starts and 5 relief outings he is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA (127 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 14 walks, and 11 strikeouts. If run differential is your thing, we have the advantage over New York, and I'm really hoping we can take advantage of shaky defense and we hopefully pick up another series win here. Minor League Report RHP/CF Juan Pomales (AAA Milwaukee Blues): It's been a while since we got a Juan Pomales update, and I've been trying to squeeze him in, but there have always been a lot of guys throwing well. Well, this time it was Pomales, an 8-hit shutout in an 8-0 win. Pomales improved to 5-3, walking just one and striking out 8. This was his second complete game in three starts, and in his 9 starts he has a 4.26 ERA (126 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 13 walks, and 40 strikeouts in 67.2 impressive innings pitched. Of course, El Conjeo is more then just a pitcher, as he's hitting .318/.396/.502 (119 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 4 triples, 6 homers, 11 steals, and 27 RBIs in 231 trips to the plate. He has had some struggles in the outfield, an efficiency of .997, .989, .1.068 left to right, with near equal innings in center and right with a little less time in left. His prospect shine is growing too, now up to 45th in the league while jumping to third in the system after the Jordan trade. His tools are impressive, but sadly he throws just 84-86 with his fastball and sinker, something I thought would increase by now. His curve is really good and enough on it's own, even if the hard stuff doesn't overpower people. His control has really developed well, almost Lyons-esque, dropping his BB/9 to 1.7 this year. Tom thinks mid-rotation, OSA a still developing future #2, and I'm beyond stoked with his pitching development. At the plate, he's projected to be a .350 hitter with a good sense of balls and strikes. His speed creates havoc on the basepaths and he has shown strong range in the outfield. Maybe center won't be his final resting spot, although he can definitely handle it, but his arm is elite and he could be one of the best right fielders. Think Tom Taylor, just hopefully without the peaks and valleys at the plate. Pomales definitely seems ready for the big leagues, and I may not be able to keep in Milwaukee the whole season like I initially thought. LF Chubby Hall (AA Mobile Commodores): Our minor league system has been really good this year. Milwaukee is in first, 42-16. So is Lincoln, 42-15. As are San Jose (40-17) and La Crosse (37-20). But for one reason or another, the Mobile Commodores are not so lucky. Just 26-31 and 12 games behind the New Orleans Showboats, things are not looking good for the Commodores, but don't tell that to Chubby Hall. He took home Player of the Week, 14-for-34 with 2 homers and 9 RBIs. As impressive as that sounds, he actually lower his season line, as he hit .412 during the week, causing his season line to drop to .433/.474/.615 (181 OPS+). He started the season in Lincoln, so he only has 116 plate appearances with Mobile, but he's already doubled 10 times, homered 3 times, and drove in 21 after 11, 1, and 8 respectively in Lincoln. This season has been a huge break out with the bat for the 1935 3rd Rounder, as the 22-year-old is inside the top 20 for prospects. Best in our system and 17th overall, Hall is a true gem who I was lucky that people passed up because of his corner outfield status. The defense there isn't great, but if you hit like he has, it doesn't really need to. The youngster has an elite hit tool and excellent plate discipline, swinging at the good pitches and not the ones he can't do anything with. His upside is unmatched in our system, reminding me a bit of Leo Mitchell just from the right side of the plate instead. I've taken my time so far with Hall, giving him two full seasons in La Crosse to get his footing, but he could be getting closer to Chicago, but OSA still projects a 1941 big league debut. I think he may be able to beat that my a year, but I know Rich Langton is starting to sweat. Mitchell is the best left fielder in the league, but Langton is ranked just 14th for right fielders, despite his .276/.315/.448 (100 OPS+) season line. He's also almost 28, and will turn 30 during the '41 season, and I won't be holding Hall down for Langton if Hall would look like an upgrade. The only thing he hasn't quite developed yet is his power, but as a flyball hitter, I can see a lot of flyballs sneaking over the fence, or the powerful Chicago winds can push a few warning track flies a little bit further. LHP Ray Wilcox (A Lincoln Legislators): He did it again! It was a perfect early birthday gift for the now 24-year-old Wilcox, who tossed a 4-hit shutout in an 8-0 win over the Cedar Rapids Chiefs. It was his second shutout in his last three starts, this one saw him walk one and strike out nine. They keep telling me he's not ready for A ball, but the results have shown otherwise, as Wilcox is a nice 6-2 in his 9 starts. He owns a 4.45 ERA (116 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP with 22 walks and 51 strikeouts in 58.2 innings pitched. The strikeouts are way up for the southpaw, as he's been befuddling hitters on a much more frequent basis then ever before. His K/9 is an outstanding 7.8, and while obviously a career high, he has had two other 5.0 or higher in earlier stints at Class C and B. His stuff is very impressive, a bit like Tommy, but instead of a knuckler he features a high 80s cutter. His fastball, change, and splitter are solid as well, but he doesn't command them quite the same. OSA loves his stuff and thinks he'll be a strong back of the rotation starter, and if the last couple of starts are any indication of his future, they be on to something. CF Jim Madsen (B San Jose Cougars): The addition of the new draftees has caused needed promotions and minor league adjustments, and one of the lucky guys going up is last year's 8th Rounder Jim Madsen. He's been off to a strong start in San Jose this year, batting .325/.414/.419 (113 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 18 steals, and 23 RBIs. He'll join the Lincoln outfield, and they'll take advantage of his speed and glove. He has a nice 6.2 zone rating and 1.043 efficiency, and he'll help keep the legs fresh up there, sharing time with Chick Browning, Doug Bennett, and one of our top prospects, Tony Mullis. At the plate, he tends to hit groundballs instead of line drives, but he tends to swing a little too frequently. Madsen may just project as a fourth outfielder, but the Rainier College alum seems to be developing into a productive player. The prospect people don't rank him in the top 500, but I'm liking the path he's taking up the system. LHP John Jonson (C La Crosse Lions); John Johnson might be something special! In his last five starts, he has four nine inning complete games and one 12 inning one, and he hasn't allowed a run in his last two outings. This time he bested the Ottumwa Owls, a 2-hitter with 6 strikeouts to even his record, like Harry and Dick did, at 5-5. He has now started 7 games with 9 relief outings, with a nice 3.86 ERA (146 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 17 walks, and 33 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched. With an injury to Ray McNeil in Lincoln, we needed a few starters moved up, and with more guys joining La Crosse, Johnson was a perfect promotion target to San Jose where he'll join Oliver Allen. A former 9th Rounder, Johnson has done outstanding down in La Crosse, and certainly seems up for the challenge. He doesn't quite have big league starter written on him, but with a few lucky development bumps, we could have another reliable big league arm in our system. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

10-28-2021, 10:34 PM	#642
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	1939 Draft: Round 11-25 11th Round, 168th Overall: LHP Art Ramsey School: Cleveland Commit School: Chesapeake State 1939: 5-1, 69 IP, 1.96 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 11 BB, 62 K Career: 15-3, 226.2 IP, 2.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 60 BB, 203 K Definitely a little unlucky here, as Tom's best available pitcher turned out to be the impossible to sign Art Ramsey. Ramsey isn't the first impossible Art we have drafted, and while he does have elite command, I'm not so sure he'll be worth signing. He wants more then $19,000, and while I could give him that, I don't think it will be worth it. I sent a $15,000 offer in, and I expect him to decline. The southpaw is probably best suited attending Chesapeake State, as it will give him time to add velo to his mid 80s fastball. His curveball should be his out pitch, but home runs right now are his true weakness. He does have a future in a big league rotation, but he has a lot of work and might not have the right mix of talent and drive to get there. 12th Round, 84th Overall: 3B Bill Mangrum School: Stringtown Commit School: Texas Presbyterian University 1939: .438/.509/.674, 108 PA, 12 2B, 3 3B, HR, 23 RBI, 18 SB Career: .438/.509/.674, 108 PA, 12 2B, 3 3B, HR, 23 RBI, 18 SB While not impossible, I will have to send a signing bonus to "Okie" Mangrum if I want to convince him to become a Cougar instead of attending Texas Presbyterian. Just a one year starter at Stringtown, Mangrum had a rather high OPS despite just a single homer in his 21 prep games. He is an above average defender at third while his offensive potential may be limited by his poor plate discipline. I'm not overly excited by him, but it would sting to have my first two AI picks not become Cougar farmhands. No bonus has been sent in yet, but I may double back later and convince the Tulsa native to forgo his commitment. 13th Round, 200th Overall: 3B Dick Carson School: Carolina Poly 1939: .259/.324/.373, 251 PA, 12 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 42 RBI, 11 SB Career: .266/.363/.428, 781 PA, 34 2B, 3 3B, 23 HR, 124 RBI, 37 SB A guy I actually considered for my regional pick, and then smartly decided against, I put the Chicagoan as the first player on the Round 13 list, so technically this was not an AI pick. A three year starter at Carolina Poly, 1939 was easily his worst season, with a career low in all three triple slash marks and his first slugging below .400. Since hitting 11 homers as a freshman, he hasn't quite shown that power again, 8 last year before cutting that in half to 4 this year. Unlike the first two guys, he signed without a bonus, and may get a game or two down in La Crosse, before potentially working his way into a starting role. I'm hoping he can show power once again, but he has struggled getting the barrel on the ball. OSA thinks he's an excellent defender, and he does have the ability to play second and short as well. Definitely a longshot for being a useful farmhand, but I will always take a chance on a Chicago kid. 14th Round, 226th Overall: CF Ernie Martini School: Darnell State 1939: .296/.333/.398, 246 PA, 9 2B, 7 3B, 43 RBI, 40 SB Career: .305/.348/.421, 687 PA, 24 2B, 22 3B, 2 HR, 114 RBI, 111 SB Another Chicagoan! Weinstock's first pick to sign, Martini was actually a guy I had scouted, but I stayed away due to his lack of power and limited upside. His best role is likely as a pinch runner, but the athletic Martini can fill in at second, short, left, and right as well. A light hitter who likely won't ever secure a starting role, Martini is a ground ball hitter who may end up with more infield then outfield singles, although he did show a tendency to triple in college. I won't cut him, he'll have a chance to fill in down in La Crosse, but this probably will be the last time you see Martini's name. 15th Round, 232nd Overall: LHP Otis Martin School: Washington 1939: 6-5, 109 IP, 3.80 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 67 BB, 65 K Career: 29-12, 424 IP, 2.97 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 187 BB, 324 K If he wasn't the only pitcher Tom drafted that signed, I might have cut the New Yorker Otis Martin on the spot. He somehow managed to have an ERA closer to 4 then 3 in high school, where some guys are able to put together seasons below 1.25. He also walked more guys then he struck out as a senior, is a flyball pitcher, and his future lies strictly in the bullpen. But, since I don't have too many young arms, the 6'4'' Martin will likely get a chance to eat an inning or two out of the pen. He does throw a high 80s fastball, but he has below average stuff, control, and movement. He may have one less letter in his last name then Ernie, but I doubt you'll see his name again either. 16th Round, 248th Overall: 2B Vince Conforti School: Jackson Commit School: University of New Jersey 1939: .526/.552/.746, 125 PA, 14 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 33 RBI, SB Career: .517/.552/.732, 474 PA, 55 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 122 RBI, 8 SB Starting an unintentional run of three impossible draftees, the tiny second basemen Vince Conforti could be worth convincing to join us. Weinstock isn't the biggest fan, but OSA thinks he could hit .330 and force his way into the lineup. He should be a decent second basemen as well, I think that might be his only position. But considering Conforti managed to hit .500 in all four of his seasons, even if twice it was just .500, there has to be some sort of talent there. I'm giving him $25,000, more then Skipper, Goff, Hufford, Harris, and Petty combined, but I'm not sure he'd accept the offer. If he doesn't sign, I think the New Yorker would be an interesting Regional Round signing, but Conforti, who always puts the ball in play, will likely not fall to the AI portion again. 17th Round, 264th Overall: SS Dave Gilbert School: Lick-Wilmerding Commit School: Texas Panhandle 1939: .383/.451/.486, 124 PA, 11 2B, 26 RBI, 6 SB Career: .404/.475/.558, 367 PA, 33 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 72 RBI, 26 SB Sometimes a player has an "Impossible" signing because they are really talented, other times it's because they're an interesting high school, but not quite good enough to be a first round pick, and other times it's just because the game needed a certain amount of impossible singings for the pool. I'll wager the latter when it comes to Gilbert. Hitting below .400 in high school is basically like having an ERA above 3, and Gilbert barely hit .400 for his career. Not only that, Tom gives a very thorough report of Gilbert; "Originally chosen 264th by the Chicago Cougars in 1939, Dave Gilbert is a 6-foot-0, 165-pound shortstop. Gilbert doesn't have the bat or glove to make it to the majors." Yeah, he's going to college... 18th Round, 280th Overall: CF Hack Mills School: Portland Christian Commit School: Eastern Oklahoma 1939: .457/.548/.724, 119 PA, 13 2B, 5 3B, HR, 28 RBI, 32 SB Career: .436/.528/.735, 344 PA, 13 2B, 13 3B, 7 HR, 76 RBI, 98 SB Hack did look best as a senior, his highest average and OBP, but his slugging was actually the lowest. He hit four homers as a sophomore and two as a junior, but just one as a senior. He has good speed and isn't a bad defender, but he's likely to end up in a corner. He has a good eye and upper level minor league hitting tools, but I think college should help him potentially turn into a better prospect. 19th Round, 296th Overall: C Hugh Elasser School: Yonkers 1939: .407/.440/.602, 119 PA, 12 2B, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 5 SB Career: .442/.466/.617, 502 PA, 59 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 120 RBI, 15 SB Our first catcher! It was a tale of two careers for Elasser, who looked like a much different player his first two years as opposed to his second. Elasser hit .407 the past two seasons after hitting ,482 and .473, with OPS' of 1.171 and 1.126. The only good thing about his senior year was he hit a majority of his home runs, but he was still far less valuable as a senior. Not much love in the reports from him, declaring him to be fully "entrenched in bad habits at the plate" and doesn't credit his defense. But, at 18, he has a lot of room to grow, and you can never have too many extra catchers on hand. I have Skidmore and Rollins down in La Crosse currently, but with no obvious third catcher, he could get a little bit of time. 20th Round, 312th Overall: 2B Gordon Miller School: Burlington Commit School: Coastal State 1939: .427/.457/.598, 128 PA, 13 2B, 2 3B, HR, 32 RBI, 17 SB Career: .438/.493/.619, 461 PA, 44 2B, 7 3B, 5 HR, 112 RBI, 62 SB The last of the impossibles! A four year starter from Burlington, Miller turned into a doubles machine, 27 in his past two seasons. Unfortunately for Miller, but fortunate for Coastal State, he's not the most exciting prospect and I don't plan on making him a Cougar. He has good speed and is a defensive asset at second, but his bat isn't all that exciting. College should do him well, as he really wouldn't have a spot with us. 21st Round, 328th Overall: C Harry Dean School: Eastern State 1939: .255/.354/.325, 316 PA, 11 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 35 RBI, 6 SB Career: .260/.359/.336, 768 PA, 27 2B, 3B, 7 HR, 95 RBI, 13 SB A new catcher named Harry, I doubt Dean will ever match Mead in talent or production, but he'll compete with Elasser for the scraps when Skidmore is on the bench. A tall, 6'3'' switch hitter, the 21-year-old in the 21st Round will start out in La Crosse, but I imagine he could back up in San Jose as well. Dean didn't have much success at the plate, but he has a good eye and potential upper level minor league talent. Especially at catcher, youngsters can develop into much better, and you can never have too many backup catchers. 22nd Round, 344th Overall: 1B Clem Coyle School: Overbrook 1939: .404/.457/.561, 129 PA, 15 2B, HR, 27 RBI, 8 SB Career: .404/.480/.648, 461 PA, 62 2B, 3B, 10 HR, 102 RBI, 19 SB A no bat first basemen with absolutely no power? Count me in! Even better, he's a moody kid who lets the losses stick with him, so you can imagine why I cut him before he made a pro plate appearance. 23rd Round, 360th Overall: 2B Grover Taylor School: Shenandoah Valley State 1939: .267/.353/.435, 12 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 48 RBI, 37 SB Career (HS): 407/.500/.709, 232 PA, 27 2B, 9 3B, 4 HR, 46 RBI, 34 SB Career (COL): .268/.355/.437, 747 PA, 29 2B, 14 3B, 18 HR, 110 RBI, 101 SB I doubt any readers remember his name, but I sure do! Originally our 14th Round selection in 1936, I let him go to college instead of signing him, but it didn't quite work out for Taylor. He wasn't too great in college, but he did show a decent amount of pop, something that could develop into more. He has decent speed, but is a rather inpatient hitter who's hacking tendency will lead to lower averages and more strikeouts. I can't see him lasting too long, but he'll hang around for a bit as a somewhat useful bench piece. 24th Round, 376th Overall: 1B Buck Adams School: Bayou State College 1939: .272/.329/.382, 251 PA, 10 2B, 5 HR, 41 RBI, 11 SB Career: .274/.352/.394, 794 PA, 28 2B, 3B, 18 HR, 129 RBI, 26 SB A first basemen with power, Buck Adams will actually get to stick around. A three year starter at Bayou State, he could probably fill in with San Jose as well, but he'll hang out in La Crosse to start. Tom doesn't think he has the bat or glove to make the big leagues, and I tend to agree with him. Right now he's just a filler piece, and considering how rarely 24th Rounders make the big leagues, I imagine we'll both be right when it is all said and done. 25th Round, 392nd Overall: CF Charlie Wells School: Riverdale 1939: .421/.467/.579, 120 PA, 10 2B, 2 3B, HR, 25 RBI, 13 SB Career: .411/.474/.634, 336 PA, 30 2B, 8 3B, 6 HR, 76 RBI, 45 SB If he wasn't from Chicago, Wells would be joining Coyle in the free agent pool. Wells had a really weird career, as his average increased each season, while his OBP dropped and his slugging bounced up then back down. 4 homers in 1938 basically made that his best season, but his three years at Riverdale weren't very impressive. At 18, however, he has a lot of room to grow, but OSA and Weinstock only talk about how bad his tools are, not how good they could be. I expect nothing from Wells, but it would be a cool storyline if the local 25th Rounder goes from back of the roster scrub to World Series winner! I have 49 of 50 roster spots filled at La Crosse at the moment, and a FA offer on a pitcher, but I will eventually have to knock it down to 35. A lot of these guys will likely end up cut this year or next, but you never know who could potentially emerge from this group. Milt Fritz himself was a 12th Rounder, and there have been a decent amount of talented players who were passed on in the first 10 rounds. That being said, Ramsey could develop into a decent starter and I'm a big fan of the Chicagoans Carson and Martini, but chances are most of these guys will not be mentioned much again. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

10-29-2021, 04:24 PM	#643
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 10: June 26th-July 2nd Weekly Record: 3-4 Seasonal Record: 33-33 (5th, 6 GB) Stars of the Week Rich Langton : 22 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .409 AVG, 1.116 OPS Mike Taylor : 23 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .348 AVG, .878 OPS John Lawson : 28 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .286 AVG, .891 OPS Schedule 6-26: Win vs Kings (1-5) 6-27: Loss vs Cannons (5-4) 6-28: Win vs Cannons (3-7) 6-29: Win vs Cannons (1-5) 6-30: Loss vs Stars (11-8) 7-1: Loss vs Stars (4-3) 7-2: Loss vs Stars (4-0) Recap Everything was looking great until the Stars series. We swept the Kings, took two of three from the Cannons, before we let the Stars walk all over us. Our homestand ended in a sweep, and not the good time, while finished of in a 4-0 shutout. Not the welcome I planned for Lonardo, as we dropped to six games out of first and we have absolutely no one to blame but ourselves, because the Stars now lead the league. They're trying to pull off a first to worst, tied at 39-27 with the Foresters. Lucky for us, we'll have an off day to recuperate before heading back on the road. Our system has taken a little hit with the Jordan trade, but a few new draftees joined the system. Skipper and Goff haven't yet signed, but the Lou Eaker pick looks good, as he checks in at 9th in our system and 137th in the league. Joining him are Tommy Davis (185th) and Bill Dambreville (241st) who rank 14th and 15th. Most of our other guys signed, including Art Ramsey, who actually agreed to the $15,000 bonus, and Vince Conforti, who agreed to the $25,000. Neither crack the top 500, but I'm okay with that. Harry Parker finally gave up a run, and it was just one, tossing a 3-hit and 2-walk complete game with a single strikeout to improve to 6-5 and lower his ERA to 3.58 (117 ERA+). In his last three starts, he has three complete games, 13 hits, 8 walks, and 6 strikeouts with just the lone run today. Dick Lyons continued to ageless run, a pair of 8 inning starts with 11 hits, 3 runs, 5 walks, and 7 strikeouts split between. Our other two start starter, Milt Fritz, did okay, a win and a loss in a pair of complete games. He was charged with 17 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 6 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Of course, Peter the Heater can't have two good starts in a row, and our new stopper allowed 9 hits, 10 runs (9 earned), and 9 walks with 8 strikeouts in an out less then a complete game. But, to make things a little better, with Lonardo on the roster, I can compare his potential to others, and while he is above everyone else, Papenfus still has higher potential then the 4-time Allen Winner. Cy Sullivan wasn't great, but good enough to keep his start for the week, 6 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), and 7 walks in a complete game loss. Pug Bryan will now start games in Milwaukee after the Lonardo trade, hopefully regaining some of his old form. Rich Langton continued to turn things around, 9-for-22 with a double, two triples, five runs, a steal, and an RBI. He gave up one start to Orlin Yates, who was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. John Lawson added two more homers, 8-for-28 with a double, 3 walks, 5 RBIs, and 6 runs. Mike Taylor was 8-for-23 with 8 RBIs and a homer. Ray Ford was 8-for-25 in his first week back, adding a triple, RBI, 3 runs, 4 walks, and a very rare steal. Freddie Jones rose his average a bit, 9-for-25 with 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 4 runs scored. Looking Ahead After the needed off day, we'll welcome Toronto in town for three. Last year, the Wolves finished second and seemed likely to place in the top division again, but they are worse off then us, 31-35, and 8 games back without a Jim Lonardo addition yet. Of course, they have a Joe Hancock instead, 9-5 with a 2.39 ERA (183 ERA+), 1.07 WHIP, 36 walks, and 62 strikeouts on pace for a 300 inning season. An old favorite of mine, Bernie Johnson, is having a breakout year, 4-7, but with a 3.50 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 30 walks, and 26 strikeouts in 13 effective starts. Bob Walls isn't undefeated, but 6-6 with a 3.49 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 32 walks, and 14 strikeouts in 100.2 innings pitched. Even George Garrison seems to have righted the ship, 4-6 with a 4.01 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.43 WHIP, 36 walks, and 41 strikeouts in 103.1 innings pitched. Then there's also reigning Whitney Winner Fred McCormick, who is ripping the cover off the ball to the tune of .367/.476/.646 (182 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 7 steals, 10 homers, and 47 RBIs, while walking (51) far more frequently then he strikes out (18). But other then him, just former Cougar draftee Reginald Westfall has an above average OPS+ in the lineup. He's hitting right behind McCormick and batting .311/.397/.457 (116 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 4 homers, 34 RBIs, 22 walks, and 5 strikeouts in 174 trips to the plate. Nick Wallace isn't doing terrible by any means, but his .310/.350/.427 (96 OPS+) line isn't as great as last year, and his 12 doubles, triple, 5 homers, and 33 RBIs leave a little more to be desired. After getting swept by the Stars at home, I've lost a lot of confidence in the team, so the best way for them to earn my favor back would be a positive series here. That's it for the road, as we return back home to host the 39-27 and tied for first place Cleveland Foresters. Lou Martino has broken out at 32, 4-1 with a 2.29 ERA (191 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 35 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 78.2 innings pitched. It has made up for the struggles of former Cougars Dean Astle and Dave Rankin, both with ERAs above 5. Astle's struggles have been very surprising, as the normally reliable ace is 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.62 WHIP, 37 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 114 innings pitched. Rankin is a similar 5-8 with a 5.28 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 39 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 107.1 innings of his own. Considering their top two are having awful seasons and they still are 12 games over .500, the Foresters are definitely a team to take seriously. Mel Carrol has been a big help for that, slashing .382/.420/.524 (138 OPS+) with 19 doubles, a triple, 6 homers, and 45 RBIs. Bill Moore has been arguably better, just in far less time, hitting .391/.456/.600 (166 OPS+) with 13 doubles, at triple, 3 homers, and 29 RBIs, although he has just 136 PAs compared to Carrol's 293. The rest of the lineup hasn't been all that great, with the only other above average hitter being Roy Bradley. The former Eagle is hitting just .311/.341/.465 (105 OPS+), but with 19 doubles, 5 triples, 5 homers, 3 steals, and 32 RBIs in an even 300 trips to the plate. This will be a very tough series, but if we can bounce back with a good win, we can really turn things around quick. We'll get Lonardo in both series, and I'm ready to see how he likes his new home. Minor League Report LF Billy Jordan Jr. (B San Jose Cougars): After toiling around in La Crosse for a bit, Billy Jordan Jr. finally got a promotion to San Jose, and he's really made it count. In his first month up, he took home Player of the Month, batting .432 with 4 homers, 25 RBIs, and 16 runs scored. Pair that with a week or so in May, he's hitting .439/.477/.653 (191 OPS+) with 9 doubles and 27 RBIs to go with his June homers. A huge breakout for the 22-year-old, Jordan Jr. actually went up a big in the prospect rankings despite all the new additions, now 33rd and 393rd in our system. Weinstock expects him to be an elite hitter, but I don't think we'll be able to find a position that Billy can field all that well. He has a loose and quick stroke that works inside the ball, but I'm not too sure that's enough for him to secure a big league spot. This year his power has started to show a little, 7 homers this season, more then his six last season while he failed to hit one in 1937 after just two in 1936. The hometown kid profiles just as an off the bench pinch hitter, but I have a guy like that in the big leagues in Tommy Sandstrom, and a .258/.343/.548 (132 OPS+) batting line is pretty nice. LHP Ralph Kendall (B San Jose Cougars): We swept the monthly awards in the C-O-W League, as starter turned reliever Ralph Kendall managed to earn the award. He was 5-2 with a 2.01 ERA, 5 saves, and 29 strikeouts in 31.1 innings pitched out of the pen. For the season, the 21-year-old southpaw has been elite in 56.1 innings pitched, 8-2 with 7 saves, a 1.60 ERA (313 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 21 walks, and 49 strikeouts. Our 5th Rounder in 1935, Kendall was a full time starter in '36, half time in '37, but he's only pitched out of the pen the past two seasons. He's looked really good, and while relief prospects aren't always the most important, seeing how our pen has had it's struggles, it doesn't hurt to have a young guy good at getting the last few outs in a game. He could move back to the rotation if needed, but I do like him much more as a pen arm. His sinker rolls up a ton of grounders, and sits comfortably in the 91-93 range, a little harder then he was throwing last year. It's a reliable pitch, but the splitter is actually the better offering. His stuff is pretty good, but he does run into issues with command. As a starter, he was prone to high pitch counts, but that has not been an issue for him out of the pen. He's definitely ready for a promotion, but for now I'm going to keep him with the Cougars. CF Edmund Mann (B San Jose Cougars): Last week, 18-year-old Edmund Mann was waiting for his name to be called in the draft. This week, he was named Player of the Week in the C-O-W league! He was sensational, 13-for-30 with 3 doubles, 5 runs, and 6 RBIs. That leads to a .433/.452/.533 (155 OPS+) line, and sure it's just 54 innings, but a 1.063 efficiency is a lot nice then a .963 one. The switch hitter appears to be very well developed for his young age, and while I don't expect him to keep up this strong trend, but if he keeps hitting like this, I could seen him making the jump to Lincoln by the end of the year. He has the green arrow currently, but I'm not sure if I have room up there for him. His floor is as a fourth outfielder, but if he can fix his focus problems, he could develop into a very exciting regular. RF Max Rucker (C La Crosse Lions): Another Player of the Week for Max Rucker, and it's time for him to start winning those up in San Jose instead. This week he hit .481 with a homer, 4 runs, and 10 RBIs, boosting his batting line up to .355/.405/.573 (130 OPS+) for the season. Not only that, he added 11 doubles, 2 triples, and 13 homers with 10 steals and 62 RBIs. Our 7th Rounder last season, Rucker got 138 games with the Lions, batting .343/.397/.511 (124 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 4 triples, 19 homers, 12 steals, and 99 RBIs. Rucker ranks right inside the top 500, 44th in the system and 488th in the league. He's an adequate defender with decent hands in the outfield, potentially ending up at any of the three outfield positions. He has a good wing as well, and while maybe not a .300 hitter, he may be able to hit it a few times in a potentially decent sized FABL career. I'm hoping he won't have a big shock with the tougher competition, but he's overachieved thus far and I hope it doesn't stop any time soon. Attached Images __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-01-2021, 02:36 PM	#644
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 11: July 3rd-July 9th Weekly Record: 3-3 Seasonal Record: 36-36 (5th, 6.5 GB) Stars of the Week Rich Langton : 23 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .391 AVG, 1.047 OPS John Lawson : 26 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .346 AVG, .969 OPS Billy Hunter : 22 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .364 AVG, .990 OPS Schedule 7-4: Win at Wolves (8-7): 10 innings 7-5: Loss at Wolves (5-7) 7-6: Win at Wolves (5-1) 7-7: Loss vs Foresters (0-9) 7-8: Loss vs Foresters (7-1) 7-9: Win vs Foresters (4-5): 16 innings Recap Sure, it wasn't a sub .500 week, but I am getting tired of winning just three games a week. It was nice we took two of three from the Wolves, but then the Foresters took two of three from us. To make things worse, two of the wins came in extras, so it was just luck. We dropped another half game in the standings, and we really need to start turning things around. I'm not sure why we are underperforming so heavily, but if we don't turn things around soon, we may be waiting another season for a chance at a pennant. I did also make a minor trade, picking up Washington's 4th Rounder next season for Dan Everett. I'm a big fan of Everett, who we acquired from the Foresters, but he had a 40-man spot and I can't really see him surpassing Cy, Pete, or Parker in the future, and he's not better then them now, despite how the first two have been pitching. He ranks 153rd in the league, and he'll enter the Eagles rotation. We also had all the prospects I plan on signing signed, and we added three top 100 prospects. Skipper Schneider ranks 55th, Danny Goff Jr. 80th, and Bunny Hufford 86th. More fill out the top 250, including Lou Eaker (152nd) and Bill Dambreville (242nd). Our system now ranks 9th with 91 points, but we are just seven shy of the 7th ranked system. Jim Lonardo made two starts in his first week with the Cougars, but he did not get a single decision. We won both of his starts, the first 8.1 innings and the second nine in a 16 inning game. He allowed 22 hits, 11 runs (8 earned), and 8 walks with 7 strikeouts, not the greatest by any means, but you can't throw a gem every game. Well, unless your Dick Lyons, who allowed 9 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts in 8.1 innings to improve to 7-5. Cy Sullivan was roughed up again, 12 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and a strikeout in 7.1 rough innings. With a double header on Tuesday, he'll keep his starting spot as we'll need a sixth starter, and that will be Pete Papenfus. He looked good in the pen, picking up a win with 4.2 innings, 3hits, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts in two appearances. Harry Parker also had a tough start, 11 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts in 8 innings pitched. It wasn't as bad as Milt Frtiz, who allowed 7 hits and 7 runs with 6 walks in just 2.2 innings pitched. We did get good pen innings from Allen Purvis, 4.2 scoreless innings with 6 hits and 2 walks. We'll need a much better pitching week this week, as only the ageless wonder Dick Lyons managed to have any success. We didn't hit much either, but Rich Langton continued to try to turn things around. He was 9-for-23 with 4 doubles, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 5 RBIs. Billy Hunter looked good too, 8-for-22 with 2 triples, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, and 4 walks. John Lawson was 9-for-26 with a double, homer, 3 RBIs, 5 runs, and 6 walks. No one else really did anything, but the generally reliable Leo Mitchell and Freddie Jones really struggled. They combined to go just 10-for-49 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, and 7 walks with 14 strikeouts. The catching duo also had a rough week, 4-for-25 with a double, 2 walks, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. I guess the consolation about the week was that even though we hit and pitched rather poor, we still managed to win half our games. Looking Ahead We get another series with Toronto, just this time at home and with three games in two days. At 32-39, the Wolves are in second to last, far different then the second place finish from last year. The pitching has been great, especially Joe Hancock, who we beat and dropped to 9-6. He has a 2.56 ERA (170 ERA+), 1.06 WHIP, 37 walks, and 65 strikeouts in 140.2 innings pitched. They added Art Blake to the rotation recently, but he was much better in the pen then as a starter. Now 2-1, he has a 4.47 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.63 WHIP, 29 walks, and 17 strikeouts, with a 4.82 ERA as a starter and 4 or more runs in each of the last four starts. Offensively, they've been let down by Nick Wallace, who after a breakout last year, is hitting just .306/.347/.415 (93 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 5 homers, and 33 RBIs. Same goes for Larry Vestal, who's hitting a poor .242/.317/.367 (73 OPS+) with7 doubles, 11 triples, a homer, steal, and 25 RBIs. Of course, there is also Fred McCormick, and is .368/.471/.663 (185 OPS+) line is nothing to sneeze at. Add in 23 doubles, 7 triples, 13 homers, 7 steals, 52 walks, and 54 RBIs, and you could be getting a back-to-back Whitney Winner. I refuse to underestimate the Wolves, and expect them to steal at least a game if not two from us. We hit the road for three with the Sailors, who are two and a half games behind the Stars. Doc Newell has had a really rough season for the Sailors, 8-5 with a 4.70 ERA (93 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 46 walks, and 32 strikeouts in 128.1 innings pitched. Walt Wells has been even worse, 5-6 with a 5.40 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.58 WHIP, 42 walks, and 29 strikeouts. These are two generally reliable arms and it is only a matter of time before they start to turn things around. Early season acquisition Dutch Sheldon has made up for it, as has Herb Flynn. Sheldon is 5-5 with a 3.46 ERA (126 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 54 walks, and 46 strikeouts in 101.1 effective innings while Flynn is 5-6 with a 3.68 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 45 walks, and 30 strikeouts in 93 of his own. We'll miss Flynn, but are likely to see Sheldon. At the plate, Bob Smith has been outstanding, boasting a 30-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio with a .343/.435/.506 (138 OPS+) batting line. Add in 8 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, and 46 RBIs, and you have a really strong season. Joe Watson has arguably been better, slashing .352/.420/.546 (143 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 10 triples, 6 homers, and 47 RBIs. This will be a tough road series, and I really hope we can turn things around. We finish the week with two in Cleveland before the All Star break. 41-30 and a game behind New York, Rube McCormick has looked good in his three starts since joining the rotation. He's 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA (210 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, 8 walks, and 4 strikeouts, but it's not enough to make up for the struggling Astle and Rankin. We're lucky they both have ERAs above 5, or Cleveland might be running away with things. Lou Martino, however, has been really good, 4-1 with a 2.24 ERA (195 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 35 walks, and 19 strikeouts, but in just 80.1 innings pitched. At the plate, Bill Moore is challenging for a batting title, slashing a robust .377/.444/.569 (155 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 3 homers, and 32 RBIs with 17 walks and 3 strikeouts. Mel Carrol has looked good in his first full year with Cleveland, owning a .383/.422/.537 (141 OPS+) line with 20 doubles, 8 homers, and 48 RBIs. Keeping those two bats in line will be tough, and guys like Roy Bradley, Ken Vance, and Dan Fowler are all hitting fine, just not quite at their usual levels. The craziest thing, however, is George Dawson, who owns just a 1.2 zone rating and 1.016 efficiency, way lower then his 1.094 career mark. To make matters worse, he's hitting just .286/.333/.352 (74 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 3 triples, a homer, 8 steals, and 30 RBIs. A very shocking season indeed, but perhaps that makes Dawson a little easier to trade for if I decide to go that route. Minor League Report 3B Jocko Pollard (A Lincoln Legislators): A pair of minor injuries have kept Pollard off the field a bit this season, but when he's been on it, there really haven't been many better. Defensively, he's a terrible third basemen, but that bat! In just 177 trips to the plate, Pollard has 15 homers and 52 RBIs with a dazzling .358/.407/.704 (171 OPS+) batting line. He does strike out (39) far more then he walks (12), but the power is really exciting. He hit 25 out of the park in San Jose last season, 10 or more each season since 1936, and is on track to reach 30 if he can stay healthy. Along with the power, he has a smooth swing with quick hands, and his contact skills seem to be above average. My scout likes his eye and pitch recognition skills, and I think he should be a decent defender at first base even if he can't really field third. Pollard does rank in our top 30 prospect list, checking in at 26 and 291st in the league, and I think he has the tools to be a decent big league starter. I can't see him surpassing Ray Ford any time soon, but having a big bat with power off the bench can be very helpful. C Solly Skidmore (C La Crosse Lions): He has a positional rating at catcher! Recently turned 19, Solly Skidmore ranks just outside the top 20 prospect list, second in our system and 23rd overall. Skidmore is the main catcher down in La Crosse, and he's been very effective with the bat. Solly is hitting .325/.389/.519 (113 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 11 homers, and 47 RBIs. I don't want to rush the youngster, and I expect him to spend the rest of the season with the Lions, especially because a pair of our somewhat decent backstop prospects (Charlie Hawkins and Walter Loera) are hanging out in San Jose, and I'm not quite ready to cut their playing time yet. There is also a two catcher system in Lincoln, and I don't want to take any at bats from Steve Mountain in Mobile. Of course, no one in our system has the upside behind the plate that Skidmore does, including Mead and Taylor. I'm not quite sold on his defense, but I'm hoping with his bat he can be at least average. He has great discipline, generates excellent bat speed, and he squares up the ball consistently. He's an advanced hitter for his age, and the strong 6'2'' teenager is gifted with top notch athleticism. Good catchers are hard to come by, and Skidmore has the potential to be one of the best in the game. It just may take him a few years to reach that level, but I know it will be worth the wait. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 11-04-2021 at 02:35 PM.

11-02-2021, 03:59 PM	#645
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 14: July 10th-July 16th Weekly Record: 4-4 Seasonal Record: 40-40 (5th, 5.5 GB) Stars of the Week Ray Ford : 33 AB, 15 H, 1 HR, 13 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.199 OPS Leo Mitchell : 36 AB, 13 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .361 AVG, .806 OPS Billy Hunter : 24 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .333 AVG, .851 OPS Schedule 7-10: Win vs Wolves (1-6) 7-11: Win vs Wolves (0-5) 7-11: Loss vs Wolves (10-9): 12 innings 7-12: Win at Sailors (12-1) 7-13: Loss at Sailors (2-4) 7-14: Win at Sailors (9-7) 7-15: Loss at Foresters (2-5) 7-16: Loss at Foresters (3-7) Recap I'm getting really tired of these .500 weeks... I'm not saying I'd rather go 0-8 instead of 4-4, but sitting at .500 is no fun when you feel like your team is a better then .500 team. This week was tough, eight games in seven days, all but three on the road, and I really pushed my pitchers. I used Lonardo and Lyons on short rest, but we still needed to use six starters because the double header was early in the week. To make things worse, we lost the Wolves sweep with a one run extra inning loss, which killed our bullpen early on. In worse news, three of our draftees got hurt this week, two being top prospects (Skipper and Hufford) while 4th Rounder Tommy Davis tore his labrum and will miss almost a calendar year. Last sim he ranked inside the top 200, now he's a little out of it, and I imagine he'll continue to drop. The All Star rosters were also announced, and four players will be representing the Cougars. No starters, but the game will see Dick Lyons (2nd), Freddie Jones (5th), John Lawson (6th), and Leo Mitchell (1st). Ray Ford took home Player of the Week, a nice 15-for-33 with a homer, 8 runs, and 13 RBIs. This increased his season line to .310/.375/.490 (128 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 4 triples, 8 homers, and 51 RBIs. He didn't have much help this week, but Freddie Jones did end the first half with a nice showing. Not quite his season level, but 7-for-25 with a double, triple, homer, 5 runs, and 5 RBIs. Leo Mitchell may have struck out 12 times, but he was 13-for-36 with 3 doubles, 7 runs, and 2 RBIs without a single walk. Mitchell was named to his first All Star game, but while he has struck out a bit in the future, he's already struck out 64 times, approaching his 1937 (66) and 1938 (75) marks in far fewer trips to the plate. I'm not overly concerned, he's still hitting .340/.382/.454 (121 OPS+) on the season, but I really hope this is his last double digit strikeout week, even if it was in another 8 game week. Billy Hunter was fine, 8-for-24 with 3 doubles, 3 walks, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. Orlin Yates looked good in limited time, 3-for-7 with a triple, run, steal, and 3 RBIs. Our catchers, however, showed fatigue, 4-for-27. Taylor at least showed some production, a double, 4 runs, 4 RBIs, and 5 walks in his 5 starts. As mentioned, Lyons made two starts, and his first one was near perfect. Just three hits, a walk, and a strikeout in a 5-0 complete game win over the Wolves. His second start wasn't nearly as great, 10 hits, 5 runs, a walk, and a strikeout in 7.2 innings pitched. The 39-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, 8-6 with a 2.94 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.15 WHIP, 21 walks, and 36 strikeouts in 125.1 innings pitched. He's also one of four pitchers and three Cougars (Papenfus and Parker) to lead the CA with two shutouts, he's tied with Bill Ross for BB/9, and ranks second in rWAR and WHIP. Lonardo was similar, one great start and one poor start. His first was against Philly, 9 hits, a run, walk, and strikeout in a complete game win. The second was 7.2 against Cleveland with 11 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Lonardo has been average in his four starts since the trade, 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA (99 ERA+), 1.53 WHIP, 10 walks, and 10 strikeouts. Not great by any means, but it may take him a little to regain his form. Harry Parker has started to heat up, and the CA BABIP leader was a run away from his third shutout, just 6 hits, a walk, and 2 strikeouts in our 6-1 win over the Wolves. Unearned runs cost us the 4-2 game against the Sailors, 6 hits, 3 walks, 4 unearned runs, and a strikeout in 8 innings. Cy and Pete had rough starts, and with only four games next week, neither will get a start. They combined for just 13 innings with 21 hits, 13 runs (9 earned), 10 walks, and 10 strikeouts. All 10 strikeouts were Papenfus', whose 75 lead the CA. Looking Ahead Three much needed days off, as hopefully we can have a better then .500 half. If feel like we should be better, and the numbers tend to agree. Sure, our Pythagorean is 42-38, but that's barely a boost over our record. The real issue is the fact that we are an abysmal 6-11 in one run games. We have also had struggles on the road, just 18-23 (.429) away from our beautiful new stadium. I'm hoping to bring in a few more fans, but we still are third in attendance despite our lackluster showing. We do have some things going, leading our league in slugging, OPS, wOBA, extra base, and home runs. Unfortunately, we've had a lot of bad starts out of our youngsters, and while I don't want to add another starter, I may have to before the quickly approaching deadline. We get to start the second half in New York, a game on Thursday and Saturday with the Stars. At 44-33, they are tied with the Foresters for first place. This will be a tough series for us, as we may have to face the newly acquired William Jones. Moved last July as well, but from the Sailors to the Dynamos, the unlucky 35-year-old will anchor the Stars rotation. He was 3-10 with a 3.56 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.40 WHIP, 32 walks, and 38 strikeouts in 129 innings pitched. Jones joins the wild but deadly George Phillips, who is 10-4 with a 4.43 ERA (96 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 74 walks, and 72 strikeouts in his 20 starts. Billy Riley is having a nice season at 25, 9-8 with a 4.09 ERA (104 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 48 walks, and 57 strikeouts. The ageless Dave Trowbridge will represent the Stars in the All Star Game, after hitting .363/.435/.508 (144 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 7 homers, and 51 RBIs in another excellent year. He'll be accompanied by new star of the Stars Moxie Pidgeon. who has 13 homers and 53 RBIs to go with his .312/.368/.466 (115 OPS+) line. Ray Cochran also got a much deserved selection, as the nifty leadoff man is slashing .306/.392/.498 (130 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 14 triples, 4 homers, 6 steals, and 30 RBIs while walking (44) more then three times as often as he strikes out (13). 19-year-old Bill Barrett will make his first of many All Star trips as well, batting .283/.389/.498 (129 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, and 46 RBIs. No rest for the wicked here, as we have to take on one of the best teams in our league right off the bat. We finish the week with a double header in Brooklyn. The reigning pennant winners are a game behind us, 37-39, in a much different Kings team. They are now without Mike Murphy, Joe Shaffner, Alf Pestilli, and Frank Vance, while Tom Barrell will miss the rest of the season with a torn rotator cuff. They started their 4th Overall Pick Rats McGonigle in the big leagues, but he'll miss the series with an oblique strain. The Ringer from Stringer looks like a future star, currently ranked 5th in the league, and he was off to a .368/.368/.553 (133 OPS+) start. He had a double, 3 triples, and 8 RBIs in 38 at bats. Al Wheeler is still a King, but hitting just .257/.340/.438 (98 OPS+) with 11 doubles, a triple, 13 homers, and 47 RBIs. Harry Barrell will make his six All Star trip, worth almost 4 WAR with a .307/.364/.427 (102 OPS+) line and 18.3 zone rating. Art White will be there as well, 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA (121 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 33 walks, and 41 strikeouts in 111.1 excellent innings. He'll be joined by his #2 Bob Cummings, as the Chicagoan has made nine starts and relief appearances in 90 excellent innings. He is 9-4 with a 2.70 ERA (160 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, 27 walks, and 46 strikeouts. We might have to face one, but probably not both of them, and I think we can put runs up on Curly Jones and Sergio Vergara. Jones came back to Brooklyn in a deal with Detroit along with an Illinois native Vince D'Alessandro. He's replacing Langille at second, and is off to a .340/.380/.489 (123 OPS+) start to his career in 52 PAs split between the Kings and Dynamos. There are two more with them after the double header, but we need to win one if not both of the double header games. Minor League Report 2B Hod Seagroves (B San Jose Cougars): After a pair of disappointing season with the Lions, Chicagoan Hod Seagroves was great there this year and even better after a promotion to San Jose. Hod was 12-for-25 with 6 RBIs, pushing his batting line to .360/.420/.532 (148 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, and 26 RBIs with a nice 13-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Seagroves has actually looked much better at second then at first, and I think he could be a strong defensive second basemen. He should develop into a consistent .300 hitter, and his quick bat allows him to catch up to most fastballs. Off-speed pitches are his weakness now, but he's done a good job laying off pitches he shouldn't offer at. Tom thinks he'll be a future regular, and I definitely agree, but he ranks just 22nd in our system and 287th overall. This has been a big breakout season for him at the plate, and it could help him finish the season in Lincoln if he keeps hitting like this. RF Harry Carr (C La Crosse Lions): It was a big day for the Harry Carr in their 6-1 win over Marshalltown. The former 10th Rounder was a perfect 5-for-5 with a double and RBI. Checking in at 21st in our system and 282nd in the league, Carr is hitting an average .310/.368/.468 (96 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 8 homers, 25 steals, and 31 RBIs in 278 trips to the plate. A natural center fielder, all his time this year has been spent in a corner, 35 games in left and 29 in right with a -0.4 zone rating in each spot. His speed s one of his most valuable assets and I'm hoping it translates to great range in the field. He's great on the bases and can lay down a nice bunt and he makes above average contact at the plate. We don't have many outfielders in the low minors, most are pushing their way up, so Carr can take it slow this season and work on improving his defense before moving on up. He profiles as a bench bat now, but Carr is the inquisitive type and that should help him improve on his trip up to the big leagues. 2B Adolph Jacobson (C La Crosse Lions): I don't really like him, and I was far from thrilled when I was stuck with him in the lottery, but the 19-year-old had a nice week. Despite being absent from the top 500, Jacobson was 11-for-14 with a run and six RBIs. It's been an up and down season for Jacobson, as he's hitting just .303/.371/.436 (90 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 5 triples, a homer, 13 steals, and 39 RBIs. He's been splitting time between first and second, but I think he's more Ray Ford then Ducky Jordan with the glove. The bat isn't all that great either, but he has a nice short swing that hopefully will turn into line drives. Strikeouts may be a problem for him, and if he puts the ball in play more often, he could develop into a decent enough hitter. OSA thinks he may force his way into a big league lineup, but there are a lot of guys I want to give at bats to before Jacobson. Still, he's really young and has a lot of time to separate from the back, and with a mix of injuries and promotions, he's going to have consistent enough plate appearances for the near future. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 11-04-2021 at 02:35 PM.

11-03-2021, 03:22 PM	#646
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 15: July 17th-July 23rd Weekly Record: 3-1 Seasonal Record: 43-41 (5th, 5.5 GB) Stars of the Week John Lawson : 16 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.634 OPS Rich Langton : 19 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .368 AVG, .935 OPS Ray Ford : 15 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .400 AVG, .900 OPS Schedule 7-20: Win at Stars (5-2) 7-22: Loss at Stars (2-7) 7-23: Win at Kings (6-5): 10 innings 7-23: Win at Kings (10-2) Recap A good week! Not perfect, of course, we did split the series with the Stars, but, we swept the Kings in the double header and earned at least a split in that series. I'd be angry if we drop the next two to them, but at least one win would be acceptable. We didn't make up any ground on the Foresters, but it feels nice to be over .500, even if it is just two games. The CA also won the All Star game 6-3, with Dick Lyons starting the game. He tossed two scoreless innings, walking Gil London to start the game before retiring the next six in order: Chick Donnelly, Hank Barnett, Bob Donoghue, Lew Seals, George Cleaves, and Billy Dalton. Freddie Jones started at short, and finished the game at second, going 1-for-4 with a run scored. John Lawson hit a sac-fly in his only plate appearance and finished the game at third while Leo Mitchell did not appear in the game, Lyons, however, struggled in his start against the Stars, allowing 13 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), and 3 walks with just a single strikeout in 5 rough innings. This spiked his ERA and WHIP a bit, but it might have been a little due to the semi short rest. Jim Lonardo finally looked like the Allen Winner I traded for, tossing a complete game win with 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Harry Parker continued to push forward, a complete game win of his own with 13 hits, 2 runs, and 4 strikeouts. Milt Fritz had a similar complete game win, 11 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), and 2 walks in our 10 inning win. Peter the Heater then picked up the save, but he didn't allow a hit, walk, or strikeout. Cy didn't pitch out of the pen, but with the double header, they'll both get a start this week. John Lawson had an insane week, deserving of Player of the Week in another week (Mel Carrol was even better), going 8-for-16 with a double, triple, 2 homers, 7 RBIs, 4 runs, and 4 walks. Carlos Montes looked good too, 4-for-11 with two doubles, an RBI, walk, and two runs scored. Rich Langton and Ray Ford looked great too, Langton 6-for-19 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, and 2 RBIs while Ford was 6-for-15 with 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and 3 walks. Freddie Jones had a down week, 3-for-17 with a double, 2 runs, 5 walks, and an RBI. Fellow All-Star Leo Mitchell continued to strikeout too much, 5 times this week, while hitting 6-for-20 with 4 runs and 3 RBIs. Looking Ahead Two more with the Kings, who we pushed back below .500 to 40-41 after the double header sweep. We'll start with Jack Goff, brother of Cougar farmhand Danny Goff Jr., who is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 16 walks, and 6 strikeouts in his 4 starts. I was hoping to see Stumpy Beaman too, a former Cougar prospect who just made his first start for the Kings. Instead, Sergio Vergara seems likely to take the start, and he hasn't had the best of starts to his career. He is 1-4 with a 5.71 ERA (76 ERA+), 1.73 WHIP, 33 walks, and 21 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched. Just 23, Vergara projects to anchor a rotation and sits inside the top 10 of all FABL prospects, but right now he's not an effective big league starter. Well, he was in his most recent start, a 6-hit shutout against Philly, but I hope he got that out of his system! With Frank Vance now in Detroit, their old starting third basemen, Frank LeMieux, is holding down the hot corner. Just 4 games in Brooklyn, but combined with 73 in Detroit, the 25-year-old is hitting a nice .321/.366/.426 (106 OPS+) with 23 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 33 RBIs with a nice 23-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. My attempts to pry away Al Wheeler were unsuccessful, and he pushed his bating line back above average to .261/.349/.451 (103 OPS+) with 11 doubles, a triple, 15 homers, and 51 RBIs. I want to win both of these games very badly, but as long as we don't drop them both, I'll be happy. Next stop is Baltimore for three with the 31-53 Cannons. These games have to be treated as must win. Baltimore has made some changes to their rotation, moving from their traditional four man set to a five man. Joining the rotation is former 3rd Rounder Butch Smith, who has made starts in three of his 21 appearances. He's been solid, 3-6 with 3 saves, a 3.88 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.60 WHIP, 36 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched. Rusty Petrick has returned to the rotation as well, but he's really struggled in 75.2 innings pitched across 10 starts and 7 relief outings. He is just 1-7 with a 7.14 ERA (59 ERA+), 1.90 WHIP, 52 walks, and 50 strikeouts. Their All Star Gus Goulding struggled in the game, relieving Dick with an inning and two thirds. He was the only CA pitcher to allow a run, charged with all three along with 4 hits and a walk. He got the win against Toronto, improving to 7-11 with a 3.69 ERA (115 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 46 walks, and 58 strikeouts. They made a lineup change as well, adding former 4th Rounder and top prospect Frank Covarrubias taking over at third. Most of his 34 plate appearances have came off the bench, but he's hitting just .438/.441/.594 (169 OPS+) with a homer, two doubles, and seven RBIs. Another new bat to the lineup is on the other corner, with former 3rd Rounder George Simmons. The 23-year-old is hitting .268/.388/.429 (114 OPS+) with 6 doubles, a homer, 10 RBIs, and 11 walks in 67 trips to the plate. The last new face is out in right, with the Tijuana Cannon Ruben Sanchez leading off. He's been up for a bit more then a month, but is hitting just .192/.214/.269 (26 OPS+) with a triple and 4 RBIs. I do like our chances in this one, but we need to take them seriously if we want to pick up the road sweep. We then finish our road trip and stretch of games with two games against the Saints before reaching the trade deadline. Still in fourth, the Saints are 43-40, despite their ace Jake DeYoung really falling apart. He's 10-7, but his ERA ballooned to 6.00 (73 ERA+) and his WHIP to 1.54 despite 26 walks and 72 strikeouts. I'm not sure why he's struggling so much, but if we have to face him, I hope he keeps that up. 23-year-old Bill Stewart has looked good in his first 10 starts, a perfect 4-0 with a 4.25 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 25 walks, and 40 strikeouts. The offense is the key to their success, with All Star Adam Mullins in the midst of another great season. He's hitting .330/.432/.465 (128 OPS+) with 21 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, and 62 RBI's with more then five times as many walks (51) as strikeouts (5). They also have a player I'm a big fan of, Red Bond, who made his first trip to the All Star game and hit .336/.424/.508 (136 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 11 homers, and 57 RBIs in 347 trips to the plate. With Dilly Ward out for potentially the rest of the season, they brought up one of their top prospects in Heinie Billings to man center. Now 23, he's hit .323/.384/.492 (122 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 2 steals, and 11 RBIs in his first 74 trips to the plate. Frank Davis has started to hit a rough patch, with his line dropping to .334/.380/.411 (102 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 2 steals, and 43 RBIs. We're going to need a lot of help stopping their offense, and while I know we can win a slugfest in Chicago, things are a little different out in the spacious Parc Cartier. Minor League Report RHP Art Saunders (AA Mobile Commodores): Despite just four starts in San Jose last season, former 9th Rounder Art Saunders was elite in Lincoln and excellent in Mobile. He's 4-1 at both starts, with ERAs of 2.41 (217 ERA+) and 3.57 (131 ERA+) with WHIPs of 1.29 and 1.02. He's walked just 14 and struck out 43 in 94 innings split between the two spots. An early round talent, we were able to snag him in the later rounds and then offer him a cool $20k to forgo his college commitment. Now ranked 10th in our system and 132nd overall, Saunders has been slowed by injuries, but it hasn't hurt his stamina. He's thrown four consecutive complete games, five in total with Mobile, and his six was only 8 innings because we lost on the road. A polished four pitch pitcher, the righty has a nice low 90s fastball that he mixes with a sinker, change, and outstanding 12-6 curve. His stuff is still a little raw, but his control is superb and he won't have walk issues. His movement his average as well, and he has all the tools needed to fill a big league rotation. Even better, his teammates love him, his pranks help break the monotony of the minor leagues, and he always knows which joke to tell and when to tell it. We have a lot of young and exciting pitchers, but I think Art will be one of the more successful arms we have left in our farm. SS Stu Johnson (AA Mobile Commodores): Recently promoted, it seemed Stu Johnson had started to stall a bit in the minors, spending most of his time since 1937 in Lincoln. Now 25, the former 7th Rounder started his season there as well, hitting a decent enough .269/.370/.463 (105 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 9 homers, and 40 RBIs in a single at bat more then 200. After the Ducky Jordan trade, I moved Hal Wood up from Mobile to Milwaukee, so Stu Johnson got the call to replace him. He's been red hot since, slashing .345/.426/.517 (147 OPS+) with 7 doubles, a homer, and 12 RBIs in 68 trips to the plate. A natural shortstop, he's probably best suited for second or third. For one reason or another Weinstock thinks he is a defensive marvel, but I think that's in regards to his play at second instead of short. He's a patient hitter, but sometimes he struggles with making contact. His most important asset might be his leadership, but with enough injuries ahead of him, I can see him forcing his way into a big league lineup. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 11-04-2021 at 02:36 PM.

11-04-2021, 04:46 PM	#647
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 16: July 24th-July 30th Weekly Record: 4-3 Seasonal Record: 47-44 (t-3rd, 6.5 GB) Stars of the Week Carlos Montes : 22 AB, 7 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .318 AVG, 1.239 OPS Jim Lonardo : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 2 BB, 8 K, 1.00 ERA Billy Hunter : 25 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .320 AVG, .873 OPS Schedule 7-24: Loss at Kings (5-6): 11 innings 7-25: Win at Kings (7-1) 7-26: Loss at Cannons (1-3) 7-27: Win at Cannons (4-3): 12 innings 7-28: Win at Cannons (6-0) 7-29: Loss at Saints (4-8) 7-30: Win at Saints (10-5) Recap We lost a game to each team this week, and a game in the standings, but we are a slightly more over .500 then we were the week before. We finished our road trip 9-7, a bit better then usual, as our road record is now closer to even at 25-27. The Stars have started to separate from the pack, sweeping the Foresters to increase their divisional lead to three and a half games. The deadline approaches as well, but I'm not sure we're going to see any more action in Chicago. I had a few trade talks yesterday, but no luck putting anything together. Someone who had a lot of luck was Carlos Montes, who almost doubled his home run total this week. Montes was 7-for-22 with a steal, 4 homers, and 9 RBIs. He still isn't having a great season, but his .250/.303/.440 (95 OPS+) batting line is a bit more respectable. Add in 15 doubles, 3 triples, 9 homers, 5 steals, and a 9.8 zone rating out in center, and you have a pretty reliable center fielder. He didn't have a lot of support in the lineup, but Billy Hunter had himself a nice week as well. He was 8-for-25 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, 6 RBIs, and 5 walks. Rich Langton was 9-for-30 with 2 doubles, a solo homer, and 4 runs scored. Freddie Jones had a solo homer as well, but was just 8-for-28 with 4 doubles, 4 walks, and 6 runs scored. Unfortunately, All Star Leo Mitchell had a dreadful week, 6-for-31 with a double and four runs scored and driven in. Would have loved to hit a lot better this week, but something tells me a little home cooking will do the trick. Only one pitcher in the Continental Association has three shutouts, and that's because of Harry Parker's outing against the Cannons. Just one strike out and five hits as Parker improved to 9-6 with a 3.25 ERA (129 ERA+) and 1.21 WHIP. His walks are a bit up and his strikeouts over a point down, but the trend has continued, unless you homer off him, you are not going to score off him. Jim Lonardo pitched two impressive complete game wins, allowing only one earned run in each outing. The second did have four unearned runs, but he combined to allow 17 hits and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts. He's been great post-trade, 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 15 walks, and 21 strikeouts in 61 strong innings pitched. Milt Fritz was not as lucky, tagged with 10 hits and 8 runs (7 earned) with 2 walks and a strikeout in 5 shaky innings. Dick Lyons was alright, just 7 innings but with 9 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Pete Papenfus tight roped out of trouble, 9 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 8 walks, and 8 strikeouts in an 8 inning loss. Cy Sullivan got the no decision in the extra inning win, 9 innings with 10 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 6 walks, and 3 strikeouts. The pen only allowed one run, charged to Purvis, in 9.1 innings pitched. They allowed 8 hits and 4 walks with a single strikeout. We have six games next week sandwiched between off days, and I will work with a four man rotation. Lyons and Parker will pitch on four days rest, so Cy and Pete will stay in the pen. Looking Ahead Off to start the week, but we'll use that day to head home to prep for our homestand. We'll face one of the three teams we're tied for third with, the Kings, who have caught fire and jumped up to 46-43. Jack Goff has been stellar in his six starts, 4-1 with a 2.34 ERA (185 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 24 walks, and 13 strikeouts. Bob Cummings has continued to look good, 10-5 with a 3.04 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 36 walks, and 50 strikeouts in 106.2 innings pitched. Stumpy Beaman has generated 11 grounders in each of his three starts, going 2-0 with a 2.59 ERA (167 ERA+), 1.73 WHIP, 18 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Walks have hurt the former Cougar early on, but since we are likely not to face him, I can continue to root for him. We'll miss Harry Barrell, who will spend a month on the DL with an intercostal strain. He was hitting an adjusted league average .307/.364/.420 with 21 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, and 29 RBIs with his general elite shortstop play. They will get Rats McGonigle back, but the loss of Barrell will hurt more. Brooklyn has great pitching, but the offense hasn't looked like a regular Kings offense, ranked 6th in runs scored, average, OBP, slugging, OPS, WAR, and wOBA, so if we can generate some runs, likely via the longball, I like our chances to win this series. Our next guess will be the Saints, who at 46-44, are half a game behind the clump of third place teams. I'm hoping we'll do better then the split in Montreal, and two of three wins is a must. I tried nabbing star right fielder Red Bond from them, but no luck. Across from him is Bert Lass, who has had a decent .329/.377/.431 (105 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 4 homers, and 37 RBIs in 322 trips to the plate. We hit Bud Robbins hard, who is now 5-7 with a 5.90 ERA (74 ERA+), 1.82 WHIP, 43 walks, and 28 strikeouts in 79.1 innings pitched. Their pen is anchored by a pitcher who came with Robbins in the Reyes trade, "Cougar" Lou Ellertson, who is 1-5 with 12 saves, a 3.04 ERA (143 ERA+), 1.76 WHIP, 35 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 56.1 effective innings. Of course, we also have to deal with Adam Mullins, who is hitting .334/.432/.468 (129 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 5 homers, and 66 RBIs in another great season at the plate. Montreal has done a great job sticking around, but I'm hoping we can push them down enough to separate from the pack. Minor League Report LF Bobby Mills (AAA Milwaukee Blues): It was a great week for Bobby Mills, who was 14-for-31 with 4 homers, 8 runs, and 15 RBIs. This was Player of the Week worthy, and improved his season line to .379/.455/.670 (179 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 2 triples, 15 homers, and 73 RBIs. He wasn't nearly as successful in Chicago, going just 6-for-25 with a homer and 5 RBIs. Our 6th Rounder from 1932, Mills has always been known for his bat, and other then a 48 game stint in La Crosse at 19, each minor league trip has seen him post an above average OPS+, even a few well above 150 like he has this season. Mills has shown a plus contact tool and does an excellent job working the count, which should lead to a lot of walks and very few strikeouts. He has no speed and very little defensive value, but despite what he has shown so far, he should be an excellent off the bench bat. I think he's best suited for first base, but we have a lot of more exciting options there, not just Ray Ford, but potentially Leo Mitchell or a vet like Lawson or Jones when their defense becomes too hard to bare. If he was just passable in a corner, he probably would be a big league regular, but his defense has held him back and will continue to limit his value. RHP Willie Gonzalez Jr. (B San Jose Cougars): A torn rotator cuff cost Willie Gonzalez Jr. a full 10 months, but I liked enough of what I saw before to pick him up from the Gothams. Pre injury he was throwing 90-92, and after work in the offseason and some more last month, the 20-year-old is sitting in the 92-94 range. He started the season in La Crosse, 10 starts where he was very effective, finishing 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 17 walks, and 32 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched. That was good enough to earn a callup, and his four starts couldn't have gone much better. He did walk his share, 10 in 21.2 innings pitched, but he is 2-1 with a sparkly 1.25 ERA (392 ERA+) and 1.20 WHIP with 13 strikeouts. A skinny righty from Milwaukee, he hasn't gotten out of the sixth in San Jose, but he was able to throw complete games down in La Crosse. He leads with a fastball and cutter, but his curve and change should develop into reliable offerings as well. His stuff should be a bit above average, but his control can desert him at times, leading to walks and the occasional home run. I'm thinking serviceable spot starter, but if his curveball turns into the plus pitch OSA is expecting, he could spend a few seasons in a big league rotation. His dad made 11 starts for us and 15 in total, but I'll take the over for junior. He has a long way to go, and ranks just inside the top 500, but if he can stay healthy, we might have a decent arm in four or so seasons. Attached Images __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-05-2021, 12:43 PM	#648
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 17: July 31st-August 6th Weekly Record: 0-6 Seasonal Record: 47-50 (6th, 7 GB) Stars of the Week Ray Ford : 26 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .346 AVG, .923 OPS John Lawson : 27 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .370 AVG, .852 OPS Rich Langton : 23 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .348 AVG, .899 OPS Schedule 8-1: Loss vs Kings (3-2) 8-2: Loss vs Kings (13-8) 8-3: Loss vs Kings (8-3) 6-4: Loss vs Saints (6-3) 8-5: Loss vs Saints (6-4) 8-6: Loss vs Saints (8-6) Recap I'm speechless... Lost for words... HOW DO WE GET LET BROOKLYN AND MONTREAL WALK IN AND SEEP US!!! Deep Breath There is a silver lining... It started with talks about Sam Brown, the Eagles right fielder who I'm a big fan of. We started talks, but they wanted Chubby Hall, and while that was a no go for Brown, it started talks with a bigger deal including Eddie Quinn or Johnnie Jones, that slowly turned into a Hall for Jones trade. I wasn't expecting to make a deal, but after floating a few names to add to Hall. Brown went 12-for-25 with a homer and 7 RBIs, winning Player of the Week in the Fed, and I sent Chubby Hall and Lee Scott to Washington for Jonnie Jones. I really didn't want to give up Hall, but this was a deal I just could not pass up. I think Hall is going to be a star outfielder, but I feel like I try to trade for Al Wheeler every month or so and with Juan Pomales' bat nearly ready to overtake Rich Langton. Add in that Ray Ford could also move to left if I have to move Lawson to first for Hal Wood, Hall didn't really have the most direct route to the majors. Of course, I've covered Jones in the past, and he's been a prospect I've been following. It's been a tumultuous career for "The Patron Saint of Groundballs" who was initially selected fourth overall by the Stars in the 1936 draft. Despite being lauded as a future ace by most in the league, his first season he only started in 16 of his 26 appearances followed by 7 of 25 the next season. The Stars had a regime change in the offseason, and Jones was a casualty, sent to the Eagles with two other pitchers for Moxie Pidgeon, Robert Curry, and Mel Hancock Jr., pieces helpful for their pennant chase. The 21-year-old lefty started all 21 of his games this season for AA Atlanta this season, but he was 8-11 with a 5.21 ERA (90 ERA), 1.80 WHIP, 85 walks, and 54 strikeouts. As you might expect, he generates a ton of ground balls, and middle infielders better be ready to turn a double play if he allows a walk or single. An imposing 6'4'', he projects to feature a plus low-to-mid 90s sinker and fastball with a changeup and forkball mixed in. The off-speed pitches aren't ready yet, but the better those become, the more dangerous his stuff will be. He does get plenty of movement on his pitches, and OSA projects him to win Multiple Allen Awards, but I just can't wait until him and "Peter the Heater" sit 1-2 with Harry Parker right behind them. In fact, it was that same 1936 Draft where I drafted Papenfus. Two picks later I got the pitcher I had my eye on, but unfortunately my 21-year-older hasn't faired to well in the majors. Papenfus has been relegated to a spot starter role with Cy Sullivan, as he is walking way too many hitters to be effective. He's 5-9 with a 5.81 ERA (72 ERA+), 1.73 WHIP, 77 walks and 84 strikeouts in 96 mostly ineffective innings. He does have the second most strikeouts in the league despite the low inning count, and if qualified, his BB/9 would be the worst. His potential is still sky high, but he has not been effective due to his lack of control. Eventually either his stuff is either going to be so good that everyone will strike out or make weak contact, or he masters his control and finally sees more batters with the bases empty. In an 0-6 week, nearly everyone struggles, and two start starter Harry Parker was really roughed up. He was only charged with a loss once, but allowed 15 hits and 14 runs (11 earned) with a walk and four strikeouts. Dick Lyons faired better, but he still struggled in his two starts. One was a complete game loss, but it was in an unlucky 3-2 loss to the Kings. He allowed 8 hits, 3 runs, and a walk with two strikeouts in a game usually good enough to win. Unfortunately his start against the Saints was much worse, 12 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 2 walks, and a strikeout in 8.1 innings pitched. Even Jim Lonardo struggled, 12 hits, 6 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts in 7 innings pitched. We won't go over Milt Fritz's start, or Dutch Leverett's weak, but there were about as many runs as innings. Harry Mead did have a comeback week, 5-for-11 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, a walk, and his first big league home run. It only took 109 games, but in the 4th inning on the 3rd, he took the Kings' Jack Goff deep to give us a 3-0 lead we eventually blew. Carlos Montes stayed hot, 5-for-20 with a double, triple, homer, 3 RBIs, 4 runs, and 4 walks. John Lawson kept his average up, 10-for-27 with a homer and 5 RBIs. Ray Ford was 9-for-26 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 7 RBIs. Leo Mitchell was 9-for-26 with a double, triple, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs scored. Unfortunately Freddie Jones, Billy Hunter, and Mike Taylor were so bad, that we left a ton of runners on base. Taylor didn't get a single hit and even though three of Jones' 5 hits were doubles, they hit well under .200 combined. We stay home this week too, but we need a much better showing. I sort of accidentally claimed Sam Orr off waivers from the Wolves. It was on purpose at first, I expected to trade Johnny McDowell, but when Boston brought Charlie Barry back home instead, I forgot that I had the Orr claim until I saw him DFA'd. With the Hall trade, an outfield spot opened up in Mobile, so I sent Aart MacDonald back to AAA and sent John Johnson back down to AA. Orr was a player I followed in the 1929 draft, and he was selected 5th Overall by the Wolves. He debuted in 1931 with a solid .319/.359/.410 (106 OPS+) batting line and added 34 doubles, 10 triples, a homer, 18 steals, and 66 RBIs. It looked like the Wolves had a long term solution, but now 24, 1932 was the only other above average season for Orr. His career .276/.321/.381 (87 OPS+) career line fell short of what it could have been, and at 31, he's now strictly a bench player. He's likely to spend the rest of the season on our bench, but he may be a 40-man casualty in the offseason. Looking Ahead At least we get a day off to recover, but we blew a huge opportunity. The Stars also struggles, so if we won four games instead of none, we'd still be in third and in striking distance of first. Instead, we just have next year to think about, as I don't think we can make it back. Still, with six games and an off day after, I'll try to run with the top four, giving two starts to Jim Lonardo and Dick Lyons. The Stars are still in first, tied with the Foresters at 53-42 and three games ahead of the Kings and Sailors. They had a rough 1-6 week, so that means they're primed to bounce back and sweep us just like Brooklyn and Montreal. They brought William Jones in to stabilize their rotation, and he's looked good in his four starts. He was 1-2, but with a 3.82 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.37 WHIP, 7 walks, and 8 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched. He'll make a solid 1-2 with Billy Riley, who is 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 60 walks, and 81 strikeouts in 180.1 impressive innings. They'll be without Bill Barrett for a while, so Hank Jones is starting to get time in the lineup. He's been effective, slashing .344/.396/.522 (136 OPS+) with 8 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 18 RBIs. Unfortunately for them, Ray Cochran has really started to slump, hitting just .220/.336/.418 in 113 July plate appearances. I really want to win this series, but after the showing we put last week, I expect three more losses. Baltimore is next in town, and unfortunately for Howie Pike, he will never pitch again for them. He partially tore his UCL on July 1st, ending his career. He was in the midst of his best season, 3-3 with a 4.66 ERA (91 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 11 walks, and 11 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched split between the rotation and pen. He wasn't a major pitcher for them, with really only Gus Goulding have a good season. He's just 7-13, but his 3.69 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 58 walks, and 68 strikeouts in 183 reliable innings. Joe Rainbow returned to the big leagues, and the former Cougar prospect is hitting .291/.330/.456 (104 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 3 homers, and 16 RBIs across 110 plate appearances. We really need these wins, so anything less then a sweep would be tough to deal with, as we can't drop any more games. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-08-2021, 02:10 PM	#649
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 18: August 7th-August 13th Weekly Record: 3-3 Seasonal Record:50-53 (6th, 8.5 GB) Stars of the Week Leo Mitchell : 21 AB, 12 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .571 AVG, 1.513 OPS Rich Langton : 24 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .333 AVG, .995 OPS Ray Ford : 25 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .320 AVG, .680 OPS Schedule 8-8: Win vs Stars (0-6) 8-9: Loss vs Stars (10-3) 8-10: Win vs Stars (2-6) 8-11: Loss vs Cannons (6-5) 8-12: Loss vs Cannons (8-1) 8-13: Win vs Cannons (3-4): 10 innings Recap I hate this team sometimes... We take two out of three from the Stars to knock them out of first before letting the dismal Cannons take two of three from us to end up splitting the week even. This really forces us to focus on next season, another blown season in Chicago, as Cleveland is now 8.5 games ahead of us and there are five teams between us and them. The only good thing coming out of the week was Leo Mitchell, who was named CA Player of the Week. The 26-year-old was 12-for-21 with 2 homers, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs en route to his second career Player of the Week, both ironically in August. It's been a bit of a down season for Mitchell with the bat, but he's still hitting an effective .340/.380/.453 (119 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, and 55 RBIs. He also set his career high for strikeouts with 80. This jump has been very concerning for Mitchell, but .340 is his highest career average and his .453 slugging is less then 10 points away from his career high. Jim Lonardo had two starts that couldn't be any different, the first a 2-hit, 2 strikeout shutout of the New York Stars. He then turned around and let the Cannons bash his brains in, 11 hits and 8 runs (6 earned) with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched. Lonardo has been reliable since the trade, but unfortunately it hasn't translated to Cougar wins. His ERA is almost identical with each Chicago team, 3.46 with us and 3.42 with them, and he's walked fewer and struck out more so far. Lyons also had two starts, although the first one was the bad one. He went 7.2 with 11 hits and 9 runs (6 earned) against the Stars, but 9.1 with 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout in an extra inning no decision we won in the bottom half of the 10th. Milt Fritz tossed a gem, a complete game win with 11 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. The Cannons hit Harry Parker in a little revenge for the shutout, 12 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks, but 6 strikeouts in his 8 innings. We're going back to a five man rotation this week, so Cy who didn't get an inning this week, will get a start. The bats really froze up, just Rich Langton also having an above average week. Langton was 8-for-24 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 runs, and 6 RBIs. Our double play duo of Jones and Hunter didn't hit much, 10-for-46 with 2 doubles, a homer, 6 RBIs, 5 runs, and 3 walks. Lawson, Montes, Taylor, and Ford all had their own measures of struggle, and they each had no more then one extra base hit a piece. If we hit a little this week, I could see us being 4-2 or at least 5-1, but we'll have to learn a lot in the offseason if we want to be back in a pennant race soon. Looking Ahead Off to start the week before we let the Foresters walk all over us at home. At 58-44, they have a 3.5 game lead over the Sailors and Stars, are in a commanding position to return to the postseason. Rankin and Astle have pushed their ERAs below 5 while Lou Martino's is back above 3, but the team continues to win games. Martino has pitched just 114 innings, but he's 7-3 with a 3.08 ERA (141 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 47 walks, and 30 strikeouts. Much better then Astle, who is 11-9 with a 4.55 ERA (95 ERA+), 1.51 WHIP, 49 walks, and 44 strikeouts in 160.1 innings pitched. Mel Carrol is putting together a Whitney Award season, challenging the .400 mark with a .392/.428/.557 (148 OPS+) line, 30 doubles, 13 homers, and 69 RBIs. Dan Fowler has one more homer and RBI, but his .235/.328/.390 (81 OPS+) line isn't nearly as good. Bill Moore has done well too, slashing .357/.422/.543 (143 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 48 RBIs. I don't have much hope for this series, but I'm hoping we can steal at least a game, as I'm not sure I could take a sweep. It doesn't get easier to end the week, as our homestand ends with the 54-47 Sailors. The Sailors pitching hasn't been nearly as good as usual, with Dutch Sheldon now leading the staff. He's 8-9 with a 4.04 ERA (107 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 82 walks, and 68 strikeouts in 156 solid innings. Merritt Thomas has been moved to the pen, 8-4 with 4 saves in 20 pen innings and 8 starts with a 4.69 ERA (92 ERA+), 1.49 WHIP, 35 walks, and 37 strikeouts. At the plate, Dick Walker is the only hitter with double digit longballs, hitting .277/.405/.452 (117 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 9 triples, 10 homers, 15 steals, and 59 RBIs. Bob Smith is slashing .329/.418/.470 (125 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 3 triples, 7 homers, 11 steals, and 62 RBIs with just 3 strikeouts and 46 walks. They bat around the dangerous Joe Watson, who everyone should have claimed on waivers two seasons ago. He's hitting a strong .356/.425/.557 (148 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 13 triples, 8 homers, and 62 RBIs. Like the Cleveland series, we'll be lucky to get a single win, and if we have back-to-back sweeps again, I'm not sure I'll be able to write another one of these... Minor League Report RHP Del Burns (AAA Milwaukee Blues): If we were still in the hunt, I might have brought Burns up to fill the 5th spot in our rotation. Instead, we're a few games under .500, and he'll pitch in Milwaukee until rosters expand. He looks big league ready, 10-1 with a 3.54 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, 30 walks, and 99 strikeouts in 122 elite innings pitched. Burns was also floated around in trade discussions, but the hard throwing righty seems set to make his debut with the Cougars. The 3rd Overall Pick in 1934, the skinny righty features a 95-97 fastball and cutter, and he does an excellent job keeping the ball on the ground. Add in a slider, change, and forkball, and you have the arsenal of at least a back end starter. The strikeout numbers are encouraging, and the movement he gets on his pitches will keep the ball in the park. Ranked 8th in our system and 96th in the league, Burns has the tools to fill the back of a rotation now, and the potential to move up if he continues to improve. C Charlie Hawkins (C La Crosse Lions): With the Solly Skidmore injury in La Crosse, I had to move Charlie Hawkins down to get him some more at bats. His first week was perfect, hitting .433/.469/.600 (149 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a homer, and 10 RBIs to take home a Player of the Week. A 12th Round Selection last season, Hawkins began the year in San Jose, and he hit .247/.340/.360 (84 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 2 homers, and 17 RBIs in just 103 trips to the plate. He had to share time with Walter Loera, who was hitting much better, but this should be a nice trip to get Hawkins back on track. Weinstock is a fan, thinking he has a future in the big leagues due to his strong eye and average contact tool. OSA thinks bench player, but at one point, he was inside the top 500. Catcher tends to be a rather weak position for us, but having as many suitable catchers as possible can be very helpful. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-09-2021, 05:26 PM	#650
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 19: August 14th-August 20th Weekly Record: 3-3 Seasonal Record:53-56 (6th, 9.5 GB) Stars of the Week Billy Hunter : 17 AB, 6 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .353 AVG, 1.271 OPS8: L Freddie Jones : 19 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .421 AVG, .921 OPS Harry Mead : 14 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .429 AVG, 1.029 OPS Schedule 8-15: Loss vs Foresters (2-1) 8-16: Loss vs Foresters (7-5): 11 innings 8-17: Win vs Foresters (3-6) 8-18: Loss vs Sailors (4-3) 8-19: Win vs Sailors (3-8) 8-20: Win vs Sailors (1-3) Recap While our season technically isn't over, another 3-3 week makes it feels like it is. Again, we fail to win one run games, this time dropping two, the openers of both series. The season is over, however, for Carlos Montes, who tore his meniscus and will spend the remainder of the season on the disabled list. Now back-to-back early endings for the 23-year-old former first round pick, who will end 10 games short of 100, his total in the previous two seasons. We have a few options to replace him, and while I did consider Juan Pomales, he's more of a right fielder then center fielder, and Aart MacDonald was already on the 40. Montes finished what would be the worst of his three seasons, hitting a slightly below average .247/.306/.438 (94 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 4 triples, 5 steals, 11 homers, and 48 RBIs in a career low 335 plate appearances. Aart hasn't hit at all in Chicago, but his .305/.423/.547 (144 OPS+) AAA line is very inspiring, and in just 39 games he's added 12 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 11 steals, and 24 RBIs. He'll split time with Orlin Yates, who is hitting a mediocre .259/.340/.365 (86 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 2 steals, and 10 RBIs. Both are lefties, so I cannot platoon, but I imagine Aart will get the majority of time out in center unless Yates starts hitting as both are plus defenders so the difference will be who can hit a little less awful. Billy Hunter had a week to remember, recording 3 doubles and 2 homers with 5 RBIs and 3 runs scored in 18 productive trips to the plate. Double play partner Freddie Jones didn't have an extra base hit, but finished 8-for-19 with 3 runs, 4 walks, and 4 RBIs. Harry Mead saw four lefty pitchers and went 6-for-14 with a double 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and 3 walks. He's been hot, increasing his season line to .308/.400/.441 (122 OPS+) in a .429/.515/.714 August. No one else did any hitting, with Lawson, Langton, and Ford combining for a pitiful 8-for-70. Milt Fritz was our two start starter this week, and he deserved to win both, not just one, of his complete games. The loss saw 9 hits, 2 runs, a walk, and 2 strikeouts while the win had 7 hits, a solo homer, 2 walks, and a strikeout. It would be nice if he put together more starts like this, as Fritz has really struggled this season. An even 9-9, his 4.30 ERA (97 ERA+) and 1.47 WHIP aren't any good and he's walked 76 with just 35 strikeouts. Cy Sullivan did have a decent start of his own, 9 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts in a complete game victory. Jim Lonardo looked good, an 8 inning win with 11 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Dick Lyons lost his start, 9 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and 2 strikeouts in 7 tough innings. Harry Parker pitched nine in our extra inning loss, charged with 9 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), and 4 walks with 4 strikeouts. Peter the Heater was a stupendous stopper, just a single walk and hit with 8 strikeouts in 4 effective innings. He got the save in the 6-3 win while keeping us in the extra inning game and Lyons' start. Looking Ahead We start the week on the road with two against the struggling Wolves. They've had worse luck then us, 49-57 and 12 games behind the first place Foresters. Joe Hancock broke out of a slump with a 7-hit shutout against the Sailors to improve to 12-8 on the season. He is in the running for an Allen Award again, with a 3.24 ERA (133 ERA+), 1.22 WHIP, 53 walks, and 91 strikeouts. His strikeouts are two behind Pete and three behind George Phillips, but Hancock is also second in wins and ERA while leading the CA in WAR less then 6 innings away from another 200 inning season. He's a big reason why they lead the league in ERA and have allowed the fewest runs all season. Bernie Johnson has rebounded well, but his 5-12 record wouldn't show it. His 3.88 ERA (111 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 42 walks, and 44 strikeouts are all decent, but he has gotten very little run support. The offense hasn't given the pitching much help, but Fred McCormick is doing his best to win another Whitney. He's slashing a robust .380/.477/.663 (186 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 11 triples, 19 homers, 8 steals, and 81 RBIs. The most help he's gotten is from Reginald Westfall, who is hitting an average .303/.400/.423 (109 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 4 homers, and 42 RBIs. They have given time to top 20 prospect Tom Frederick, but the early results form "Mr. Versatility" haven't been very pleasing. The 23-year-old is spending most of his time at second, but hitting just .266/.330/.340 (71 OPS+) with seven doubles and six runs driven in. We're likely facing Jim Morrison, who's two starts this season have been much better then last season. In 15.1 innings he's allowed 15 hits, 5 runs, and 6 walks with 7 strikeouts, earning a win and no decision. We really need to win the two in Toronto, as our next two are in Cleveland. Now 62-46, they have a two and a half game lead on the Stars. Cleveland hasn't won a pennant since 1935, but they can control their own destiny. They also have a Whitney candidate of their own in Mel Carrol. The 27-year-old is hitting an impressive .379/.416/.544 (141 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 14 homers, and 71 RBIs. 35-year-old Rube McCormick has made a resurgence, working to a 2.99 ERA (135 ERA+) and 1.40 WHIP in 72.1 strong innings out of the rotation. Fellow veteran Ben Turner is back to a fulltime rotation role, and is 12-9 with a 3.97 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.49 WHIP, 64 walks, and 33 strikeouts. Dave Rankin tossed a shutout in his most recent start, a 4-hitter against the Wolves. He's now 10-12 with a 4.59 ERA (94 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 73 walks, and 57 strikeouts as he maintains pace for another 200 inning season. We're lucky we get an off day after the season, as I think we'll be recovering from a mini sweep at the hands of the Foresters. Still on the road after, as we get two with the Sailors to finish the week. They are still in the hunt, but we dropped them to 55-51 and third place. Former shortstop Jim Beard has adjusted well to the hot corner, working to a 3.3 zone rating and 1.022 efficiency in 838.1 innings. The 2-Time All Star also has an average .321/.371/.434 (104 OPS+) line with 16 doubles, 10 triples, 14 steals, 3 homers, and 58 RBIs. "The Flatbush Flash" has been worth nearly three wins above replacement, already his second highest career mark. He won't reach the 6.3 measure from 1937, but he's been a nice new addition for a team that sent Jack Cleaves away to acquire top young pitcher Ray McCarthy. River Grove native Woody Stone has taken a slight step back from last year, hitting a slightly below average .316/.354/.425 (97 OPS+) with 25 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, and 68 RBIs in 359 trips to the plate. He struck out just 5 in 462 last year, already 12 this season to 21 walks. If he starts to heat up, the Sailors could make things more interesting. A bounce back from "No-Hit" Newell would help as well, as the 31-year-old is just 9-9 with a 5.35 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 54 walks, and 44 strikeouts in 168.1 innings pitched. Walt Wells was just diagnosed with back tightness, so he may miss the week. He has been decent, 10-8 with a 4.23 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 65 walks, and 44 strikeouts in 159.2 innings pitched. I hope we can steal these games, we did beat them twice at home, but even a split would be considered a win. Minor League Report LHP Johnny Ruby (AA Mobile Commodores): The season hasn't been great for the 23-year-old, but I'm hoping his recent start is a sign of better times. He allowed 7 hits and 5 walks with 6 strikeouts in a 7-0 victory over the Chattanooga Reliables. Including that most recent start, he's 3-3 with a 5.72 ERA (82 ERA+), 1.60 WHIP, 21 walks, and 26 strikeouts. He was much more reliable in an 11 start stint in Lincoln, 5-3 with a 3.66 ERA (147 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 37 walks, and 65 strikeouts. An 8th Rounder in 1937, Weinstock thinks Ruby could develop into a back end starter, and OSA finally thinks he's worthy of a top 500 prospect spot. The slender southpaw has a nice and polished six pitch arsenal, with a superb slider and hard breaking curveball. He should rack up the strikes out, but his control isn't quite ideal. The sidewinder also does a great job keeping the ball on the ground, and has an exciting mix of tools at his disposal. He's not the hardest thrower, but his deception is one of his best qualities, and he does a good job fooling hitters. He still has some developing to go, but he's trying to show people his junior year at Smithfield College was a fluke. RF Izzy Sevilla (A Lincoln Legislators): It was a huge game for the 25-year-old, who was 5-for-6 in a 15-9 win over the Cedar Rapid Chiefs. Only one of those five hits was a single, as he added a homer and three doubles with four runs scored and two driven in. Sevilla was struggling with Mobile, hitting .268/.311/.401 (87 OPS+) in 310 trips to the plate. The first 15 games in Lincoln have gone much better, as he's up to .375/.412/.609 (148 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 2 homers, and 11 RBIs. The struggle in AA was a bit surprising, as he hit .275/.339/.412 (107 OPS+) there last year. It's hard for outfielders to get much time in our system, so he's played a lot of games at different positions. He's spent just 16 games in right, but 40 in center and 41 in left. A 7th Round selection from 1935, he's a tireless worker whose career seems to have stalled a bit. He does have plus speed and provides above average defense, but sometimes he's a bit to eager at the plate. It will be tough for him to work his way back into favor, but he's a good piece at least for minor league depth. With the Montes injury, he'll return to Mobile, and will try to regain some favor. LF Billy Jordan Jr. (B San Jose Cougars): Another guy on the way up, Jordan will leave San Jose with a .401/.472/.530 (164 OPS+) line with 14 doubles, 4 homers, and 45 RBIs. It was just 235 plate appearances here and 88 in La Crosse, but it's a pair of .400 seasons for the 22-year-old. It has raised his prospect status a bit, now up to 33rd in our system and 381st overall. Jordan has a nice and smooth swing that should allow him to hit for a high average, but he doesn't do much more then that. He doesn't walk or strikeout much, and extra base hits aren't really his style, so it may limit his potential as a regular. Not much of a defender either, so he really will need to hit .400 consistently if he wants a regular role. Still, this season has been very impressive, as .400 at any level is impressive. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-10-2021, 04:23 PM	#651
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 20: August 21st-August 27th Weekly Record: 3-3 Seasonal Record: 53-56 (t-5th, 10 GB) Stars of the Week Rich Langton : 26 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 8 RBI, .423 AVG, 1.154 OPS Ray Ford : 28 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .393 AVG, 1.040 OPS John Lawson : 30 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .333 AVG, .894 OPS Schedule 8-21: Win at Wolves (9-8) 8-22: Loss at Wolves (0-7) 8-23: Loss at Foresters (7-8): 14 innings 8-24: Win at Foresters (5-3) 8-26: Win at Sailors (17-1) 8-27: Loss at Sailors (2-3) Recap You guessed it! Another 3-3 week! We managed to win one and lose one against each team we played, with three of the games being of the one run variety. We continue to make things difficult for ourselves, but hey! That 17-1 win! What a game! Would have been fun to save one of those runs for the 3-2 loss directly after, but 23 hits and 14 runs in the last three innings are pretty cool! A lot more cool then our 14 inning loss, and the playoffs are now double digit games away from us. The draft signing deadline also passed, so our four unsigned players will officially enroll into their new schools. Bill Mangrum will attend Texas Presbyterian, Dave Gilbert Texas Panhandle, Hack Mills Eastern Oklahoma, and Gordon Miller Coastal State. All four will be eligible again in 1942, and I'll keep an eye on them. College should help them all secure higher selections, and sometimes these impossible guys develop into very interesting prospects. Lyons and Lonardo were our two start pitchers, but both had a seven run start and a good start. Lyons allowed 19 hits, 10 runs (7 earned), and 3 walks in 13 innings while Lonardo allowed 24 hits, 8 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts in 14.2. Neither were as bad as Harry Parker, who was roughed up for 10 hits and 8 runs with a walk and 3 strikeouts in just two and a third. At least Milt Fritz picked up a complete game victory, 8 hits with 3 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. The pen, however, was almost perfect, just a single run allowed in 17.2 innings pitched. Leverett was charged with the run, but he allowed just a single hit with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts in 6.1 strong innings. Peter the Heater was scoreless again, 6 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched. The pitching really hurt this week, and I expect more of the same in the last month or so. Rich Langton had a great week, 11-for-26 with a steal, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 5 runs, 4 walks, and 8 RBIs. Ray Ford had a similar 11-for-28 week with a double, triple, homer, walk, 7 runs, and 7 RBIs. Freddie Jones turned things around, 9-for-26 with a homer, 3 RBIs, 4 runs, and 7 walks. John Lawson was 10-for-30 with 5 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Aart MacDonald had a nice return to Chicago, 6-for-19 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, 4 walks, and 5 RBIs while going just 1-for-4 in stolen base attempts. Mike Taylor will miss a few games with an elbow contusion, but was 6-for-19 with a double, triple, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 4 RBIs. The offense wasn't bad by any means, but with the lack of pitching it didn't matter all that much. Hunter and Mitchell had rough weeks, which could have been the difference in some of those one run games, but for the rest of the season, I just want my guys to perform well, even if the wins stop coming. Looking Ahead We can't split with anyone and thankfully can't go 3-3, but we start the week in Montreal with three against the Saints. At 58-56, they are in fourth and about 7.5 out of first. Jake DeYoung's struggles could have potentially kept them out of the pennant race, as the talented 26-year-old is just 11-11 with a 5.56 ERA (78 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 32 walks, and 90 strikeouts in 184.2 innings pitched. Same goes for talented 25-year-old Bud Robbins, who is 9-7 with a 5.72 ERA (76 ERA+), 1.82 WHIP, 66 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 113.1 innings pitched. Rookie Bill Stewart has cemented his rotation chances, 7-3 with a 3.94 ERA (110 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 41 walks, and 62 strikeouts in 107.1 innings pitched. He has been helped by the #1 scoring offense in the game, led by star outfielder Red Bond. He's hitting .334/.410/.500 (130 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 15 homers, and 75 RBIs in 481 star level plate appearances. No other Saint is close to that line, but Adam Mullins has a nice .318/.409/.453 (119 OPS+) triple slash with 27 doubles, 8 homers, 79 RBIs, 63 walks, and 6 strikeouts. A surprising star for them has been rookie and former top 50 prospect Mark Burns, who is hitting a productive .307/.381/.476 (116 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 4 triples, 9 homers, 64 RBIs, 42 walks, and 12 strikeouts. We also may get our first look at #7 prospect Wally Doyle "The Waco Kid" who made five starts last season and two this season. He hasn't been great, 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA (66 ERA+), 1.95 WHIP, 37 walks, and 19 strikeouts, but he won't turn 21 until after the season. Regardless, he's one of the most exciting youngsters in the game, and he should turn into an outstanding weapon for them. This will be another tough road trip, and I'm ready to be disappointed. We finish August and then start September with the last place Cannons, who were able to easily dispose of us last time we met. At 48-66, they are the only team yet to win 50 games in the Continental Association. Year two for Rufus Barrell has looked closer to what we have expected for him, as the 22-year-old southpaw is 11-7 with a 3.95 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.37 WHIP, 42 walks, and 82 strikeouts in 159.1 innings pitched. He's been a good #2 for Gus Goulding, who is 9-14 with a 3.86 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.37 WHIP, 70 walks, and 79 strikeouts in 216.2 innings pitched. 28-year-old swingman Butch Smith is making his case for a more permanent role, 7-8 with 3 saves, a 3.66 ERA (115 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 55 walks, and 64 strikeouts in 110.2 innings pitched. The former 3rd Rounder debuted out of the pen last season, but he does look interesting enough as a starter and the fans absolutely love him. With Whit Williams on the mend, former 13th Overall Pick and current #14 prospect Mike T. Taylor has had his contract purchased and has looked like a vet at the plate. Now 21, Taylor is hitting .265/.387/.510 (133 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, a homer, and 13 RBIs while walking 11 times without a single strikeout. The kid is a horrid defender, but his bat will be more then enough for him to make a name for himself. The rest of the offense has really struggled, but "The Mouse" Fred Galloway has slashed a robust .305/.388/.475 (124 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 20 triples, 3 homers, and 53 RBIs in 477 excellent plate appearances. He was their lone All Star, and looks like a piece they can build on long term. We really need to win this series, and while a sweep is ideal and unlikely, I'd be more then happy with just a series win. We finish the week by starting a three game set with the Stars. Still in the hunt, they're 61-51 yet three and a half games out. Now 41, Dave Trowbridge has still been outstanding. He's hitting .334/.415/.489 (133 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 12 homers, and 74 RBIs. Moxie Pidgeon has started to cool down, but he's still hitting a respectable .305/.356/.452 (107 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 17 homers, and 73 RBIs behind him. Bill Barrett is still in recovery, but Hank Jones has hit well in his absence, maintaining a .324/.366/.459 (112 OPS+) line with 9 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, and 23 RBIs. Ray Cochran has continued to hit well, but his defense, like Pidgeon, has been really poor. Still, Cochran's 3.0 WAR is just barely best then his last season career high of 2.9, and he's hit .290/.378/.481 (120 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 17 triples, 8 homers, 42 RBIs, and 63 walks. William Jones suffered shoulder inflammation last week, and will miss the next nine months with his injury. His 7 starts with the Stars were as awful as the injury, 1-3 with a 5.36 ERA (79 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 9 walks, and 8 strikeouts. He was supposed to form a solid 1-2 with Billy Riley, who is 13-10 with a 3.75 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 68 walks, and 89 strikeouts in his first 200 inning season. The 25-year-old was a former 9th Round selection from 1932, and owns a career 3.52 ERA (118 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP in 368.1 innings pitched. The rest of the rotation has let them down, but George Phillips' 96 strikeouts are better the any non-Peter the Heater pitcher. He's 13-9 with a 4.35 ERA (98 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, and 110 walks in 231.2 innings pitched. I'm hoping we can win at least one of these three games, but we'll only get the opener tomorrow. Minor League Report LHP Harl Haines (AA Mobile Commodores): A 10th Rounder in 1935, fireballing submarine southpaw Harl Haines has really done great at polishing his craft and developing into a future big league starter. His most recent start was impressive, a 3-hit, 3-strikeout shutout in a 4-0 win over the Nashville Chieftains. It was his 12th start in Mobile, 19th overall, and he has very similar ERA+'s at both stops, 161 and 164. With the Commodores, Haines is 9-3 with a 2.85 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 23 walks, and 49 strikeouts in 101 innings pitched. Ranked 13th in our system and 151st overall, the 6'3'' Haines has done an excellent job racking up the strikeouts while keeping the walks manageable. His best pitch is his mid 90s cutter, and while his overall stuff isn't the best, he makes up for it with pinpoint control and a lot of groundballs. The skinny southpaw has the floor of a 5th starter, but since he joined our system, he's done nothing but improve and exceed expectations. I think he could be ready for Milwaukee, but with a full rotation there, I can expect to see Haines spending the rest of the season in Mobile. He's maybe a season or two away from being big league ready, but I think he still has a lot of growing and untapped potential left. 3B Jocko Pollard (A Lincoln Legislators): Playing time has been a little tough to come around for Jocko Pollard, but that didn't stop him from going 5-for-6 in a 14-5 crushing of the Peoria Pastimers. He doubled three times and drove in five, and is now hitting an impressive .353/.406/.636 (152 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 18 homers, and 86 RBIs in just over 300 trips to the plate. The 22-year-old has spent his whole season in Lincoln, and he's played a majority of his games at third. He's had a terrible time in the field, a .892 fielding percentage, -8.6 zone rating, and .859 efficiency in 457.1 innings. First base is his likely landing spot, but with Bill Dambreville there now, he's stuck spending most of his time at the hot corner. He has made his way up our prospect rankings, checking in at 23rd and 270th, mainly due to his bat. He has well above average contact skills, and he's done an excellent job improving his power and strength. He has a smooth swing with quick hands, and his pitch recognition skills are rapidly improving. Weinstock doesn't even like his defensive skills at first, and he's way too early for the DH to save him. He's far from a sure thing, but he may already have an FABL ready bat, and a hitter like him may be extremely valuable in these stupid one run games we keep losing. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-11-2021, 06:28 PM	#652
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 21: August 28th-Septmeber 3rd Weekly Record: 6-1 Seasonal Record: 62-60 (5th, 10 GB) Stars of the Week Rich Ford : 32 AB, 16 H, 0 HR, 11 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.123 OPS Leo Mitchell : 27 AB, 13 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .481 AVG, 1.340 OPS John Lawson : 29 AB, 11 H, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .379 AVG, 1.055 OPS Schedule 8-28: Win at Saints (5-3) 8-29: Loss at Saints (2-3) 8-30: Win at Saints (15-3) 8-31: Win at Cannons (13-0) 9-1: Win at Cannons (5-4) 9-2: Win at Cannons (7-3) 9-3: Win at Stars (5-2) Recap Well, well, well... Look what we have here! Just when I gave up on the season, we decide to rip off a 6-1 week to jump back above .500! Cue the unnecessary hope for making the playoffs just to be let down in the end! Of course, the only loss this week was of the one run fashion, coming against the Saints who we took two out of three from, capping it off with a commanding 15-3 win. We rode that into a 13-0 shutout and eventual sweep of the Cannons, before winning the first of the Stars series. The offense came alive, the pitching was relatively capable, and we are now much closer to second then they are to first. Cleveland is a win away from 70, but what really sucks is if we just played to our expected record (68-54), we would only be a game and a half out of first. We've scored the third most runs and allowed the second fewest, and now with rosters expanded to 35, we will be able to add a few reinforcements. The bats came to play, led by the red hot Leo Mitchell. He finished the week 13-for-27 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 5 walks, 10 runs, and 6 RBIs in a very well rounded week. Ray Ford was arguably better, 16-for-32 with a double, triple, 5 runs, and 11 RBIs. John Lawson was 11-for-29 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 7 runs, and 9 RBIs. Billy Hunter was solid too, 9-for-26 with a double, triple, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Orlin Yates looked good in his 11 trips to the plate, 5-for-9 with an RBI and pair of runs scored. Freddie Jones has started to cool down, just 3-for-21 with a double, 3 walks, 4 runs, and an RBI. Aart MacDonald wasn't great, but went 5-for-18 with a double, run, 2 RBIs, and 4 walks. Our two start starters this week were Harry Parker and Milt Fritz, and they were both outstanding. Parker tossed a pair of complete game victories, 18 hits with 6 runs (3 earned), a walk, and 7 strikeouts to lower his ERA back down to an even 4.00. Fritz was actually charged with one of the losses, allowing 21 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), and 5 walks with 4 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched. Fritz has 11 wins on the season, and is now an even 54-54 as a Cougar. Jim Lonardo, however, had the best start of the week, a 5-hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout shutout of the Cannons. The 35-year-old vet is 8-4 with a 3.29 ERA (127 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP in 115 excellent innings with us. Dick Lyons had the one rough start, 11 hits and 4 runs with a walk and 2 strikeouts in 7 innings pitched. Cy Sullivan looked decent in his start, a complete game win with 13 hits, 3 runs, and a walk. We also only needed one pen arm this week, and he was impressive. Peter the Heater has looked outstanding as a stopper, this week just 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 4 hitless innings. As a reliever, Papenfus is 4-1 with 3 saves, a 1.12 ERA (372 ERA+), 1.12 WHIP, 14 walks, and 24 strikeouts across 24 innings. As a starter, the sailing hasn't been nearly as smooth, 4-8 with a 6.06 ERA (69 ERA+), 1.76 WHIP, 71 walks, and 76 strikeouts in 87.2 innings pitched. Obviously, I want Papenfus to be an ace, not a fireman in the pen, but the 21-year-old will likely finish the season in the pen before working back into a starting role next year. Looking Ahead Two more with the Stars in New York, who have dropped down to 62-57 and a full six games out of first. I like our chances here, and I expect us to see Chris Clarke and Vern Hubbard instead of having to deal with Bill Riley and George Philips. Clarke has looked good in 8 starts and 5 relief outings, 3-3 with a 3.82 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 32 walks, and 22 strikeouts. Hubbard has started all 27 of his appearances, but the numbers haven't been exactly what the Stars wanted. The high upside 24-year-old is 11-12 with a 4.58 ERA (93 ERA+), 1.59 WHIP, 89 walks, and 81 strikeouts as he approaches his first 200 inning season. Both guys are solid, but I think they'd be even better with a better defense. The bats have started to cool a bit as well, including Chink Stickels, who has had a major sophomore slump. One of the main pieces in the John Lawson trade, Stickels hit .322/.388/.526 (152 OPS+) with 48 doubles, 19 triples, 9 homers, 13 steals, and 73 RBIs in an outstanding rookie season that earned him an All Star bid. This year he's been just an average hitter, slashing .275/.362/.412 (99 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 9 triples, 5 homers, 11 steals, and 54 RBIs. Joe Angevine has also cooled off from his hot start, hitting just .283/.342/.377 (85 OPS+) in 413 trips to the plate. I don't think we'll have nearly as much success this week, but if we can finish off the sweep, the momentum it will build would be huge. The road trip continues with two more, but we won't have to leave the state of New York. The Kings will host us, but the reigning pennant winners are now 58-63, tied with the Wolves for six. Art White has started to struggle, now 10-9 as his ERA as jumped above 4 to 4.15 (104 ERA+) with a 1.52 WHIP, 53 walks, and 70 strikeouts. Same has gone for Bob Cummings, 12-6 with a similar 3.99 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.35 WHIP, 60 walks, and 74 strikeouts in 151 innings pitched. Jack Goff has looked really good, as Danny's brother is 7-4 with a 3.42 ERA (126 ERA+) and 1.53 WHIP, but with a less encouraging 45 walks and 18 strikeouts. The Kings rotation has started to falter a bit, and if our bats stay hot, we may be able to put up a ton of runs. The lineup hasn't been overly productive, but their 1-2 of rookies have done well in limited time. 4th Overall Pick, #2 prospect, and minor league skipper Rats McGonigle has been impressive, hitting .320/.352/.542 (124 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 8 triples, 4 homers, and 30 RBIs in his first 166 FABL PAs. Right behind him is fellow lefty Jim Lightbody, whose 33-to-6 walk-to-strikeout ratio has fueled his .316/.436/.529 (144 OPS+) batting line. The youngest Lightbody has added 12 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 6 steals, and 29 RBIs, most coming above his buddy Frank. A little heating up from Al Wheeler, who is hitting an average .257/.344/.425 (95 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 3 triples, 17 homers, and 68 RBIs in what should end up as his 12th consecutive 600 plate appearance season. You can never underestimate the Kings, there is a lot of talent there, but now that we decided it's cool to win games, we may be able to come into town for the quick sweep. Off Friday, but we finish our long road trip and the week with two against the first place Foresters. These games are huge with a capital H, as the only way we can really catch the Foresters is by beating them ourselves. Cleveland scores a ton of runs, and Mel Carrol is a big reason for that. His .369/.412/.525 (135 OPS+) batting line is Whitney worthy, and when you add in the 34 doubles, 2 triples, 14 homers, and 82 RBIs, and you have one of the most valuable bats in the league. Behind him is the power bat of Dan Fowler, who has shown you can produce runs even when you hit below .250. His .230/.330/.380 (79 OPS+) batting line leaves a lot to be desired, but his 15 doubles, 2 triples, 17 homers, and team high 85 RBIs can make up for it. And despite not starting every game, Bill Moore has been one of the league's most productive hitters, hitting .341/.421/.547 (143 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 4 triples, 7 homers, and 57 RBIs with 39 walks and just 6 strikeouts. The only real weakness in the lineup has been Brooks Meeks, a once productive second basemen who is hitting just .267/.312/.382 (74 OPS+) in his aged 30 season. The pitching hasn't been great, but ace Dean Astle has really started to turn things around. Now 13-11, he has a slightly above average 4.23 ERA (103 ERA+) with a 1.49 WHIP, 57 walks, and 56 strikeouts while still on a 6.0 WAR pace. Dave Rankin has evened his record to 12-12, but his 4.51 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.53 WHIP, 80 walks, and 57 strikeouts haven't been the best use of his 207.2 innings pitched. I would like to face 23-year-old rookie Johnny Slaney, who is 1-1 with a 3.76 ERA (116 ERA+), 1.71 WHIP, 18 walks, and 10 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched. A former top 100 prospect, Slaney was taken back in 1934 with a pick I traded to the Miners, and he's done a great job recovering from a torn UCL last season. I know this will be a tough series, and when we are inevitably swept by the Foresters, I can finally put the season to rest. I'm not ready to stack the big league roster with callups yet, as all our affiliates other then Mobile are in first place with a month left in the season. Most have double digit leads, while Lincoln is 4 games up and Mobile is 12 games out, but I always keep extra players on hand and usually have more guys playing then needed. Most levels have four outfielders sharing three spots with an extra infielder keeping the starters fresh, and I run six man rotations at all levels. I do want extra arms on hand, and while I really want to bring Del Burns or Juan Pomales up, I only have one free 40 man spot, and that will be left for Carlos Montes, who will eventually need to be taken off the 60-Day DL. The other will go to gloveman Oscar King, a longtime Cannon shortstop. I've always been enamored with King, a late round selection by the Kings who has spent most of his 794 FABL games with the Cannons. Other then his rookie season in 1933, King has called Baltimore home, and he earned a 60.7 zone rating and 1.050 efficiency at short. Unfortunately for him, he has never had any success with the bat, hitting just .232/.340/.314 (80 OPS+) with 101 doubles, 35 triples, 14 homers, and 281 RBIs. He'll be useful off the bench, and he may try to work for a bench role next season. He's hit just .191/.318/.257 (51 OPS+) in 217 PAs this year, but King has an outstanding eye and his glove is extremely valuable as well. Joining him will be a pair of lefties in Jim Miller and Rusty Watts. Miller has started all 20 of his games in Milwaukee, and all 110 in his minor league career, but my scout and I agree that Miller's future is likely in the pen. He'll fill a mop up role for us, after finishing 4-5 with a 4.78 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, 21 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitched. Watts hasn't had much success this season, but the 24-year-old throws consistently in the upper 90s with a lively fastball. His stuff is outstanding, but the command leaves a lot to desire. He started 16 games in Mobile and relieved 7 in Milwaukee, but his ERAs of 5.42 (86 ERA+) and 5.82 (87 ERA+) were not that impressive. Most was due to command, 36 walks to 37 strikeouts, after 50 and 81 the season before. I'm not sure either arm will get many innings, but it can't hurt to have some mop up arms to keep everyone fresh. I may bring up Chet Peacock soon as well, but I can't see Pug or Joe Brown coming up when they can still get regular starts in Milwaukee. The bench will get some new faces, including a third catcher in Johnnie Williamson. Weinstock thinks Williamson is an average FABL starter, OSA tends to agree, but the former 8th Rounder is stuck behind Mike Taylor and Harry Mead, and as long as they are both Cougars, he's not likely to see much playing time for us. It was a bit of a down season for him, but the Blues catcher hit .281/.354/.347 (79 OPS+) with 20 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 55 RBIs in 478 trips to the plate. Bringing Williamson up also helps unclog our system a bit, giving Steve Mountain a chance to face AAA pitching, and Diego Bernal and Gidge Sumpter to return to an everyday role instead of having to split at bats. I also wanted a few reliable pinch hitters, so that meant the bat only Johnny Waters and Bobby Mills will be on a train to Chicago. Waters has slashed a robust .358/.417/.524 (138 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 12 homers, and 79 RBIs with Mills sporting an astronomical .340/.414/.596 (154 OPS+) with 35 doubles, 2 triples, 19 homers, and 99 RBIs. T he last piece up is 26-year-old Homer Ray, our 17th best prospect and the league's 235th. He's a decent glove, but Ray hasn't gotten much time in AAA. He's hit a poor .270/.320/.328 (65 OPS+) in 150 trips to the plate. That leaves us with four open roster spots, and I sort of have an idea of what I'm going to do with them. Tip Harrison will likely join the roster in a week or two, as I love the 28-year-olds versatility. Larry Robison may make the trip up because of his wheels, 29 steals in 38 attempts to go with a .330/.404/.478 (123 OPS+) line. There's also likely to be a few interesting pieces on waivers, so an empty spot or two can come in handy, and then once the minor league season ends, I can bring up one of the Blues' starters. Minor League Report SS Skipper Schneider (AA Mobile Commodores): He's probably ready for the big leagues, but I'm just not quite ready to give a 40-man spot to an 18-year-old, and I'm not ready to burn options on him yet either. A strained PCL cost him a month in his first pro season, but Skipper has hit a very good .333/.365/.444 (112 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 steals, and 14 RBIs in three PAs shy of 100. His defense, however, has been most impressive, working to a 9.1 zone rating and 1.129 efficiency in just 186 innings at short. Of course, Skipper is also extremely versatile, able to handle second, third, left, right, and probably center too, but other then a lone start at second, he's spent all his time at short. As things look now, he'll push Billy Hunter to third once he's ready, as Schneider projects to be a defensive marvel. Ranked 5th in our system and 47th in the league, the teen also has a quick bat that allows him to catch up to any fastball. He doesn't have the best luck against off-speed stuff yet, but I think that's something he will definitely overcome. He has a really high ceiling, but Weinstock thinks that both Hunter and Hal Wood's are even higher. That doesn't worry me all that much, Hunter and Wood were also first round selections and Hunter was a top 5 prospect at one point, and Skipper is actually further along then the 25-year-old Wood. I think he has a higher chance of reaching his potential then Wood and even Hunter, as Skipper is an extremely hard worker who is already good enough to suit up for an FABL team. RHP Billy Seawood (A Lincoln Legislators): Before I even knew about his most recent starts, our former 12th Rounder was already on his way up to Mobile. He had a two start week, starting with a 6-hit, 4-walk, 2-strikeout shutout of the Peoria Pastimers. Lincoln put up 13 runs, so Seawood didn't have to be dominant, as those runs would have been better suited for his other start. He went 8 since we were on the road, allowing 5 hits, a run, an earned run, a walk, and 3 strikeouts to drop to 6-4. He made 7 starts in San Jose before 11 in Lincoln with outstanding marks at both spots. He was 5-0 in San Jose with a 2.54 ERA (194 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 5 walks, and 33 strikeouts. His record wasn't as strong in Lincoln, but his 3.60 ERA (149 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, 24 walks, and 32 strikeouts were impressive none the less. Now 22, Seawood has a decent three pitch arsenal, featuring a high 80s fastball, with an off the charts change and strong slider. The change is the go to pitch, and he locates it well, but he does a good job pitching low in the zone and forcing batters to roll over his pitches. His upside is a little limited, but his floor is pretty high as he's very well developed for his age. He profiles more as a long reliever with the pitches to start, but it will take a bit of luck for Seawood to secure a long term rotation spot. Attached Images __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 11-18-2021 at 01:58 PM.

11-12-2021, 05:28 PM	#653
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 22: September 4th-September 10th Weekly Record: 3-3 Seasonal Record: 65-63 (5th, 8.5 GB) Stars of the Week N/A: Email Glitch Schedule 9-4: Loss at Stars (5-7) 9-5: Loss at Stars (1-7) 9-6: Win at Kings (12-2) 9-7: Win at Kings (6-5) 9-9: Loss at Foresters (5-9) 9-10: Win at Foresters (5-1) Recap We're back! Another 3-3 week! All is right in the world! The Foresters had a rough week, so we made up some ground, but now it's only a matter of time before we are eliminated from postseason contention. We let the Stars shake off their cold streak, taking the last two in the New York series, but we did manage to sweep the Kings and split with the Foresters. Still, not a very inspiring week, allowing five or more runs in four of our games, but at least we won the one run game! I also decided to bring Tip Harrison up from Milwaukee. The super utility man hit .268/.354/.407 (93 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 11 homers, 14 steals, and 54 RBIs in 457 plate appearances. He can play the outfield too, but with Pomales functioning as the fourth outfielder, Tip only spent his time on the dirt. He got 38 games at first, 30 at second, 32 at third, and 29 at short, with efficiencies of 1.095, 1.072, 1.070, and 1.050. He still has options left, so I expect him to function mainly as minor league depth, but eventually he'll turn into our most useful bench piece. The bats were lively this week, with our double play duo of Hunter and Jones tearing the cover off the ball. In a Player of the Week worthy showing, Hunter went 12-for-22 with a double, triple, 3 walks, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs scored. Jones was arguably just as effective, 11-for-30 with a double, 2 homers, 9 RBIs, 6 runs, and 4 walks. John Lawson got into the fun as well, 11-for-25 with 4 doubles, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. Ray Ford added 5 RBIs to his now third highest total in the CA (88), 11-for-29 with 6 doubles, a steal, and 5 runs scored. Leo Mitchell had another 5-hit game, making up for half of his hits that week. He finished 10-for-26 with a pair of runs scored. Rich Langton was 9-for-25 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. Unfortunately, our catchers and center fielders had no effect at the plate, combining to go 8-for-47 with 2 doubles, 7 runs, and 4 RBIs. I gave all the compliments to Jim Lonardo last week, but this week was a far different story. One of our two start starters, he lost to both the Stars and the Foresters, and failed to get out of the 8th in both outings. He allowed 24 hits, 16 runs (11 earned), and 5 walks with just 4 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched. Dick Lyons didn't fair much better, but he picked up a win against Cleveland and a loss against New York. The win was impressive, a complete game with 6 hits, a run, 2 walks, and a strikeout while the loss went just 6.2 with 10 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, and a strikeout. Cy Sullivan looked rejuvenated a bit, a complete game win with 9 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Harry Parker also picked up a complete game win, but he was not as effective. He allowed 10 hits and 5 runs (4 earned) with 5 walks and 6 strikeouts. None of our callups got an inning, we just needed nine outs from the pen, but other then Lonardo, we didn't really pitch that poorly. Looking Ahead Home sweet home! Well, not too sweet, as we have to start the week with a double header against the Sailors. At 65-61, they are a game ahead of us and seven and a half out of first. We'll get to see Herb Flynn and then probably Merritt Thomas, who has returned to the rotation. Flynn is now 11-12 with a 3.81 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 81 walks, and 58 strikeouts in 191.1 innings pitched. He's been the most effective Sailor pitcher, and the only one with an ERA below 4. Thomas has struggled and was demoted to the pen, with just 10 of his 32 outings coming from the rotation. He's 9-5 with 4 saves, but a 5.38 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.60 WHIP, 40 walks, and 41 strikeouts in 92 innings pitched. I like our chances against him, but this will definitely be a tough double header. We'll have to suppress Joe Watson and his .356/.418/.547 (142 OPS+) batting line while tip toeing around Dick Walker, Jim Beard, and Bob Smith who are all having slightly above average seasons at the plate. They do have some weakness in the lineup, with leadoff man Jorge Nava and 8 hitter Don Homer. Nava has really fallen off from three consecutive impressive offensive seasons to hit .250/.362/.342 (79 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 12 steals, and 33 RBIs. Homer hit well in the past too, but it happened in much less time. He's hit just .287/.362/.366 (84 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 8 triples, and 49 RBIs in his first season as a full time starter. The Sailors are excellent at drawing walks, best in the league, but they hit a lot of singles and almost no home runs. We've doubled their home run total (89 to 44), but both strategies have led to 65 wins. Off on Tuesday, so we don't really have to worry about bringing in an extra starter, and we can relax before a three game set with the Wolves. Toronto recently cracked the 60 win mark, now 60-67 on the season and a game ahead of the Kings for 6th. This year Joe Hancock will have my vote for the Allen Award, as the Wolves ace is 15-9 with a 2.99 ERA (145 ERA+), 1.22 WHIP, 64 walks, and 105 strikeouts in his fourth consecutive 200 inning season. Former #3 overall pick George Garrison may end up with his first 200 inning season, but he's 5-11 with a 4.31 ERA (101 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 57 walks, and 61 strikeouts. Both Bernie Johnson (3.56, 122) and Bob Walls (3.59, 121) have been excellent, giving the Wolves an impressive top three in their rotation. Fred McCormick has gotten some help from former top 20 prospect Walt Pack, who has excelled in his rookie season. The 24-year-old is hitting a robust .345/.409/.538 (137 OPS+) with 15 doubles, a triple, 7 homers, and 35 RBIs in his first 225 FABL plate appearances. Tom Frederick has started to heat up himself, now hitting .328/.394/.466 (116 OPS+) fueled by a .421/.463/.553 September. For the season, he has hit 15 doubles, 3 triples, a homer, and 13 RBIs while adding 5 steals. These two can make the Wolves dangerous next season, taking some of the load off Fred McCormick. "The Reticent Reaper" deserves another Whitney Award, hitting an astronomical .390/.487/.672 (190 OPS+) with 36 doubles, 12 triples, 10 steals, 24 homers, and 105 RBIs. No one in the entire league can come close to McCormick, with no other player slugging .600. The next highest average is .365 for Mel Carrol and Tom Bird's .438 OBP is the closest to McCormick. Toronto was 17-12 in August and they are looking to show the league that even though they started awful, they will be back for 1940. We finish the week with two against the Foresters. Their lead was cut to four and a half over the Stars, but there 73-54 record has been impressive. In a crazy year of underperforming across the CA, the Foresters have taken full advantage. Lou Martino is healthy and back in the rotation, but he still has just 128.2 innings on the season. He's now 8-3 with a 3.08 ERA (141 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 55 walks, and 36 strikeouts. Dean Astle beat us to improve to 14-11 with a 4.25 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.50 WHIP, 60 walks, and 58 strikeouts. George Dawson's returned to form a bit with the glove, improving his zone rating to 7.5 and efficiency to 1.044. His .307/.358/.392 (89 OPS+) line is improved as well, and he now has 18 doubles, 8 triples, 4 homers, 12 steals, and 55 RBIs in just under 600 trips to the plate. We managed to split with them in Cleveland, so I really hope we can take both games in Chicago. Minor League Report RHP Art Saunders (AA Mobile Commodores): Sure, the New Orleans showboat will end up winning the Dixie League pennant, but that hasn't stopped Art Saunders from bewildering batter after batter in the mean time. His fourth consecutive complete game victory was a 3-hit shutout over Birmingham, where the Commodores won 3-0 while Art walked one and struck out nine. This improved Saunders to 9-2 on the season with a 2.74 ERA (169 ERA+), 1.02 WHIP, 12 walks, and 56 strikeouts. Injuries have held him back a little, but excusing a pair of one week absences, he's been able to stay healthy. He just surpassed the 150 inning mark, the first time of his career, but he's added innings in each season. It started with 54 in 1936, 78.1 in 1937, and then 137 last season. Now 22, the former 9th Rounder is a well liked teammate who keeps his buddies happy and laughing whether the team is up 10 or struggling to score a run. One of our most exciting young pitching prospects, he's our fourth highest rated pitcher, 10th in the system, and 125th in the league. Weinstock wagers he'll end up a #5, but I think his outstanding command will take him further then that. He has a knee buckling curveball and lively low 90s fastball, paired with a sinker and change as well. I've been really impressed with his skill in limiting walks, a Lyons-esque 1.0 with the Commodores. He's never had a below average stint at any minor league level, and he's inching closer to being big league ready. Saunders may end up being used as trade bait, but regardless of where he ends up, I'm confident that he'll succeed and put together an impressive big league career. RHP King Price (B San Jose Cougars): Our 9th Round selection this June, the now 22-year-old King Price was moved up to San Jose out of necessity, not because of his 5.52 ERA (113 ERA+) and 1.71 WHIP in 60.1 innings pitched. He's now made four starts in San Jose, and they have been outstanding. He's allowed two or less runs in each one, the most recent a 6-hit shutout as the Cougars crushed the Fresno Falcons 11-0. That improved him to 3-1, and dropped his ERA and WHIP to 1.27 (386 ERA+) and 1,16 with 11 walks and 27 strikeouts. He's struck out almost a batter an inning in San Jose, a marked improvement over his La Crosse numbers, while maintaining his somewhat high 3.5 BB/9. A polished sidewinder, the Bluegrass State alum doesn't throw very hard, just 85-87 with his cutter, but he gets a lot of movement and uses deception in his windup to record outs. His change will be the best of his three pitches, but his knuckle curve isn't that bad either, likely ending up better then his cutter. I don't expect his velo to improve much as he develops, and I would much rather see him improve his command instead. Absent from our top 50 prospects, Price's upside is limited, but he's got a much higher floor then most of our more exciting prospects. He should be able to rise up the system fast, but unless he makes some changes, he's likely to end up as a depth piece more then anything. CF Bunny Hufford (C La Crosse Lions): If it wasn't for a logjam of outfielders in our system, Hufford would likely be up in San Jose instead. The reigning Player of the Week, the 57th overall pick in the most recent draft will at least finish his season here, ideally starting next season in San Jose. He was outstanding, 14-for-25 with 8 RBIs and 7 runs scored. This pushed his season line to .423/.523/.610 (162 OPS+) in 151 trips to the plate. He added 17 doubles, 3 triples, 9 steals, and 27 RBIs, and despite a three week strained hamstring, he showed no signs of the injury afterward. I was worried it may hurt his range a bit, but he still has a respectable 0.7 zone rating and 1.028 efficiency in 195 innings out in center. He'll turn 22 at the end of October, but since draft day, he's been a member of the league's top 100. Currently at 7 and 76 respectively, he sits right behind Skipper and Goff, our first and second round selections. I'm a huge fan of Hufford's speed and range, potentially his top two assets. He also projects to have above average contact, and he's definitely showing flashes of that now. He should work the count well, but I'm a little surprised in the lack of power he's shown so far. Yet to hit a homer, Bunny averaged 4 a season at Chesapeake State, and I thought he might be able to hit a couple longballs in pro ball. The outfield situation is very crowded, Leo Mitchell and Carlos Montes both rank inside the top 6 at their position, and Pomales and Goff expect to at least have part time roles in the outfield, and even after the Hall trade, we still have Rich Langton who hasn't failed to have an above average offensive season. Hufford has a tough road ahead of him, but he's got the work ethic coaches love, consistently challenging his teammates to do better in practice, and I think his work ethic will rub off on others while he uses it to work on his game. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-14-2021, 05:28 PM	#654
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Amateur Report: High School One of the toughest parts about the January draft is there is no stat line created for the players final season. This does make it a bit easier for Amateur Reports, as I don't have to wait until closer to the draft to write the reports. This one will cover some of the interesting prep prospects, and I plan on releasing a college one as well, either later today or next weekend. 1B Bill Barnett School: Brunswick 1939: .444/.579/.1.025, 107 PA, 12 2B, 3B, 11 HR, 34 RBI, SB Career: .491/.583/.951, 359 PA, 43 2B, 5 3B, 26 HR, 107 RBI, 20 SB If you like power, you're going to love Bill Barnett. "B.B." will be a four year starter, but his second two seasons were much more different then his first. He hit .527/.559/.759 as a freshman, but with just 2 homers. The next two seasons he failed to hit .500, but his slugging was well above 1, even with an OPS of 1.729 as a sophomore. He hit 24 homers and drove in 71 runs while raising his walks from 11 to 29 and 25. Barnett sacrificed contact for power, but it was surprising that his plate discipline improved as well. He won't turn 18 until August, but Barnett could follow the Bill Barrett track and fast track himself t o the majors. He's shown outstanding pitch recognition skills and he does an outstanding job working the count. His power scares pitchers, causing them to pitch around him to get him to chase, but nine times out of ten it doesn't work how they think it would. He has a fluid swing that allows him to deposit pitches well over the fence, and his offensive skills are top notch. If he's able to maintain a high average with his power, he will be a legit star, and even though he is a corner bat, he's easily one of the most exciting prep prospects in the pool. I'm not saying I would use a top pick on him, but I'd wager there aren't many bats in this class better then him. His future lies in the cleanup spot of a big league lineup, and he should keep that for years to come. RHP Hal Hackney School: Fulton 1939: 11-0, 113 IP, 0.72 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 22 BB, 298 K Career: 20-0, 210 IP, 0.81 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 41 BB, 357 K A perfect 20-0 in his 28 starts at Fulton, the Missouri native Hal Hackney may be this draft's Harry Sharp. Sure, Hackney has two seasons of stats to back up his talent, but both are talented three pitch pitchers from Missouri who are projected as bullpen pitchers not starters. Hackney has a plus slider and high 80s fastball, but his his change is a well below average offering, and could potentially make it tough for him to find a role as a starting pitcher. His control and movement are both average tools with the potential to develop into more, but that third pitch may make it hard for him to turn into a reliable starter. He just turned 18, but Hackney could be a very decisive prospect as his stats are really good, but his tools aren't overly exciting. RHP Joe Lund School: Bennington 1939: 11-0, 116 IP, 0.70 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 33 BB, 205 K Career: 20-0, 207.1 IP, 0.82 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 56 BB, 357 K It's hard to perform much better then Joe Lund, who is working on a 27 start unbeaten streak with sub 1 ERAs as a sophomore and junior. Add in a 15.5 K/9 and just a pair of home runs, and Lund looks like a lock for a selection in one of the first two rounds. 18 in March, Lund has a rather unpolished five pitch arsenal, but his fastball sits comfortably in the 87-89 range and he does an outstanding job keeping the ball on the ground. His stuff and command should end up well above average, but he's got a lot of developing left before he reaches that. My scout has some concerns about his stamina, but if he's able to keep his pitch count down it won't matter so much. Lund has the tools to start, but Weinstock and OSA don't give him the nicest scouting reports. It's hard for me to believe a pitcher as successful as Lund not developing into an exciting prospect, but as there is with all high school arms, a lot of risk is involved. LF Dick Blaszak School: Morris 1939: .525/.586/.1.059, 116 PA, 17 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 43 RBI, 9 SB Career: .520/.577/.1.035, 234 PA, 29 2B, 3 3B, 23 HR, 85 RBI, 13 SB B.B. wasn't the only prep bat to hit double digit long balls or record a 1.000 or higher slugging. In fact, "The Polish Hammer" Dick Blaszak did that as both a sophomore and junior, and it would be surprising if he didn't as a senior too. In both seasons with Morris, Blaszak hit over .500/.550/1.000 with double digit walks, doubles, and homers. I have no idea why Weinstock isn't a fan, his offensive skills are quite apparent, but OSA thinks he's the cream of the crop. They think Blaszak will develop into an elite left fielder, and I feel like that's a better prediction then on the "bubble for a big league role", but that's just me. He has 20 homer potential, but I wouldn't be surprised if he reaches 30 on multiple occasions. He makes excellent contact with the hit tool to challenge for a batting title if he reaches his potential. He works deep counts, but he doesn't have the greatest eye at the plate. An imposing 6'2'' from the right side of the plate, he weighs just 185 now, and I imagine the teen will add more strength as he develops. He's a bit holder then Barrett and will be 18 for the first portion of the draft, but I imagine he'll also be a lock for an early round selection. I can't see him falling out of the second round, but as a New Yorker, there is no way he isn't at least a regional selection. CF John Moss School: Lexington 1939:.480/.585/.873, 138 PA, 16 2B, 6 3B, 4 HR, 34 RBI, 25 SB Career: .474/.582/.825, 261 PA, 30 2B, 10 3B, 6 HR, 58 RBI, 38 SB Cousin of Chiefs outfielder and former #1 Overall Pick Cliff Moss, "Johnny Reb" has done a solid job boosting his draft stock. He increased most of his stats this season, with his WAR, average, OBP, slugging, doubles, triples, homers, RBIs, and steals all increased, and he has the talent to do that again as a senior. 18 in October, Moss is also a reliable defender, boasting excellent speed and range out in center with the possibility of being an elite defender. At the plate, he works the count, and his quick swing allows him to foul off pitches that he can't do too much with. He's patient, will draw a lot of walks, and he has a high ceiling both in the field and at the plate. Unlike a lot of the top prospects in the pool, he plays a premium position, and that will increase his value a lot. The one thing he doesn't really do is hit homers, but that's something that could easily change. He won't be a 20 home run hitter like Cliff, but I could see him having Carlos Montes type pop, good for 10 or so homers a season. RHP Harry Stewart School: Bell Academy 1939: 7-2, 93.2 IP, 1.35 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 28 BB, 127 K Career: 23-5, 292.1 IP, 1.29 IP, 0.91 WHIP, 76 BB, 403 K Unlike Lund and Hackney, Harry Stewart has had some seasons with an ERA above 1, but that doesn't mean he's not a pitcher worth keeping an eye on. Nicknamed "Crime Spree," Stewart started 40 games in his first three seasons at Bell Academy, and while he has a pair of seasons with an ERA above 1, he's kept his WHIP's below 1 in each season with a 12 K/9 of higher. A bit of a hard thrower, Stewart has a nice low 90s fastball, with a tough change and average splitter. His fourth pitch is a curve, but that's more of a last resort, low usage pitch. His command isn't perfect, walking more batters in each of his seasons, but that's really his only weakness. If he's able to keep his walks in check, he should have a future in a big league rotation, but his stuff and movement, while effective, are not enough to overcome a lack of control. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-15-2021, 04:27 PM	#655
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 23: September 11th-September 17th Weekly Record: 4-3 Seasonal Record: 69-66 (4th, 7.5 GB) Stars of the Week Leo. Mitchell : 29 AB, 16 H, 0 HR, 8 RBI, .552 AVG, 1.227 OPS Ray Ford : 30 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.038 OPS John Lawson : 26 AB, 12 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .462 AVG, 1.164 OPS Schedule 9-11: Win vs Sailors (1-8) 9-11: Loss vs Sailors (10-6) 9-13: Win vs Wolves (8-10) 9-14: Loss vs Wolves (7-4) 9-15: Loss vs Wolves (5-1) 9-16: Win vs Foresters (8-9) 9-17: Win vs Foresters (4-13) Recap We couldn't go 3-3, so we went 4-3! We split the series with the Sailors, won two against the Foresters, and didn't lose a one run game! Sure, the Wolves took two out of three from us in Chicago, but I was impressed that we won both games against Cleveland. We are still way out of first place, but every win helps at this point. It did move us up to fourth place, but we do have a chance to move up a few more spots. Leo Mitchell had a week to remember, taking home Continental Association Player of the Week. He hit well, going 16-for-29 with 2 doubles, 4 walks, 7 runs, and 8 RBIs. Mitchell has done outstanding in September, slashing .493/.553/.582 with 3 doubles, a homer, 11 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. This moved his season line up to .349/.396/.458 (124 OPS+) in 611 trips to the plate. He still has a little time to reach double digit homers, but Mitchell has recorded 33 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers, and 73 RBIs with 42 walks and 103 strikeouts. The surge of strikeouts has led him to an insane .414 BABIP, a bit higher then his .383 career mark. The lineup as a whole did well, and even though he bruised his foot on the 14th, John Lawson had a great week as well. He went 12-for-26 with 2 doubles, a triple, 4 RBIs, and 9 runs scored. He won't miss any additional time since we have an off day today, so he'll be fully healthy for the rest of the week. Freddie Jones also had a big week, 8-for-22 with a double, triple, homer, and six runs scored. Rich Langton went 11-for-30 with a double, triple, 2 homers, 7 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Ray Ford was 12-for-30 with 3 doubles, a homer, 9 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. The catching duo was back to a good week, 9-for-28 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 10 RBIs. The centerfielders, however, didn't have any luck, 6-for-31 with 3 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Billy Hunter was the only hitter without any luck, just 4-for-25 with two runs scored and driven in. Our starting pitching was beyond awful, and really the only good pitching performance was Rusty Watts relief outing. He came in after Milt Fritz went 3 with 7 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), 2 walks, and a strikeout. Watts then earned the win, six shutout innings with 5 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Fritz's first start was luckily better, 7 hits, a run, and a walk in a complete game win, also effective, but his week was ruined by the poor start against Cleveland. Cy Sullivan had two rough starts, 15 innings combined with 21 hits, 10 runs, 8 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Harry Parker got a win, but was an out away from a complete game. He allowed 9 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. Even Lonardo really struggled, 15 hits, 7 runs, and a walk in 5.2 innings pitched. Same goes for Lyons, who allowed 7 hits, 5 runs, and 4 walks with just a single strikeout in a complete game loss. Peter the Heater was sabotaged by an Ollie Page error, which led to a Bob Smith grand slam with all four runs unearned. He did pitch two other games, going 4.1 with 3 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Looking Ahead Off to start the week before two hosting the Cannons. At 57-78, they are almost twenty games behind the Foresters. They have a few new adds to the roster, including waiver claim starter Walter Murphy. The Orland Park native has made six starts and two relief appearances, going 3-2 with a 4.83 ERA (88 ERA+), 1.54 WHIP, 18 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched. We'll likely see him, and potentially rookie Paul Richardson. He debuted last year, but the former 15th Round Pick made his first two starts this season, and they couldn't have been any different. The first was against the Stars, where he couldn't get out of the fourth and allowed 9 hits, 10 runs (9 earned), and 3 walks. The second was much better, an 8-hit, 4-walk shutout of the Saints. If not him, we'll get Rusty Petrick, who has really had a rough 1939. After going 12-15 with a 3.64 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 159 walks, and 130 strikeouts in 269.1 innings pitched, he won't come anywhere close that inning count this year. In 17 starts and 12 relief outings, he is 5-11 with 3 saves, a 6.41 ERA (66 ERA+), 1.87 WHIP, 89 walks, and 69 strikeouts. Another guy enduring a rough season is Ken Mayhugh, who has hit just .270/.333/.354 (79 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, and 66 RBIs. An interesting add to the lineup is former Cougar Pete Asher, but he's barely hitting his weight, at a .205/.239/.295 (38 OPS+) line with two doubles, a triple, and seven driven in. I do think we should win both of these games, and it could help move us up to third place. The next series will be much tougher, a three game set with the Stars. Us beating the Foresters help them get closer to Cleveland, now just 3.5 games out. The Stars have the CA leader in strikeouts, George Philips, who was 14-13 with a 4.19 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 124 walks, and 113 strikeouts in a career high 275 innings pitched. Last season in 30 starts (34 this year), he only managed 211.1 innings pitched, and what first looked like a lack of stamina may have been an ill informed pitch count. And after four complete games last season, he's up to a league high 21. Close to his 113 strikeouts is ace Billy Riley, who is 16-12 with a 3.89 ERA (110 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 76 walks, and 108 strikeouts in his breakout season. I'm hoping to see Chuck Cole instead, who has had a tough season in New York. He's just 4-8 with a 5.32 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.61 WHIP, 63 walks, and 58 strikeouts in 16 starts and 8 relief outings. Bill Barrett is back in the lineup, and they missed his .280/.388/.462 (118 OPS+) batting line. He added in 12 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, and 52 RBIs with 50 walks and 14 strikeouts. Dave Trowbridge is chugging along strong, slashing .343/.432/.491 (137 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 4 triples, 13 homers, and 91 RBIs with 75 walks and 32 strikeouts. Moxie Pidgeon is approaching 20 homers, but his .303/.355/.445 (105 OPS+) line has continued to drop towards the average. He has 18 doubles, 19 homers, and 85 RBIs in his first season with the Stars. This will be a tough series, but we could either really help the Stars in their pennant chance or help secure another one for Cleveland. We start the first half of a two game set with the Kings to finish the week. At 62-71, the reigning CA champs have fallen behind the Wolves, ahead of just Baltimore in the standings now. The Kings have added some new faces to the lineup, with former lottery pick Joe Herman batting above the struggling Al Wheeler. Herman turns 24 on the 26th, and has hit an impressive .364/.420/.602 (157 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, and 32 RBIs in 131 plate appearances. About half of his appearances have been starts, but he's done everything he can to show he deserves to hold onto the spot. They've also placed Tiny Tim Hopkins at first, but in his 75 trips to the plate he's hit a paltry .250/.301/.309 (55 OPS+) with a double, homer, and six RBIs. Former Cougar prospect Stumpy Beaman hasn't had a great start to his King career, 2-6 with a 5.26 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.95 WHIP, 40 walks, and 17 strikeouts in 10 starts and 3 pen outings. We need to win both games, but even with the tough season, I can't underestimate the Kings. Minor League Report 1B Marv Smith (AA Mobile Commodores): It's been a nice month for Smith, who has gotten a hit in each of his September games so far, leading to a nice 20 game hit streak. A natural outfielder, Smith has played almost exclusively first base this season, as we have a ton of corner outfield options and very few at first. Most of his hits have been singles, but he's boosted his season line from .254/.354/.381 to .316/.412/.437 (124 OPS+) up in 54 games in AA. 25 in November, Smith has added 6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 6 steals, and 32 RBIs with 35 walks to 12 strikeouts. He's actually been better up in Mobile then Lincoln, showing a patient approach to the plate and he's adept at drawing walks. He also has a knack for making contact, likely hitting for a high average his entire career. The lefty hitter has a chance to develop into a capable pinch hitter, and with a little more pop, he could develop into much more. After 10 homers last season, he's up to 16 this season, but I'm not sure if this will last in the big leagues. He does hit a lot of flyballs, which will work well in our park, and OSA thinks he could force his way into a lineup. SS Skipper Schneider (AA Mobile Commodores): Not only did Leo Mitchell take home Player of the Week, and former Cougar Ivan Cameron took home the honor in the Fed, but our first rounder took it in the Dixie League! Mobile may be out of the postseason, but it wasn't because of Skipper. He hit an even .500 with 5 runs and 7 RBIs to boost his season line to .352/.382/.476 (125 OPS+). He hasn't hit a homer yet, but he's added 12 doubles, 3 triples, 3 steals, and 23 RBIs in his first 159 pro plate appearances. He's also been stupendous at short, already a 16.6 zone rating and 1.146 efficiency. He doesn't turn 19 until October, and could potentially debut next season as a teen. The hard worker has shown the talent to be a defensive marvel in the field with a quick bat at the plate. Sometimes he has struggles with off-speed stuff, but that's something he'll adjust to with more reps. Ranked 39th in the league and 3rd in our system, he just passed Hal Wood, and is our most developed infield prospect. Hal Wood may spend a little time at short before Skipper, but I think he'll be our long-term shortstop, eventually pushing Billy Hunter to third once John Lawson is ready to call it quits. Of course, Lawson has showed no signs of slowing down, so Skipper may have to wait a few seasons before turning into a full time regular. RHP Ray McNeill (A Lincoln Legislators): It was another good outing in Lincoln for Ray McNeill, who tossed a 6-hit, 5-strikeout shutout of the Cedar Rapids Chiefs, as the Legislators silenced them 10-0. It was his 10th start of the season here, and he went 5-3 with a 3.22 ERA (167 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 9 walks, and 32 strikeouts. Thanks to an untimely torn labrum of Art Saunders, who of course I jinxed last report, McNeill will return to Mobile. Our former 7th Rounder hasn't had much success with the Commodores, 2-5 with a 5.34 ERA (86 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 14 walks, and 25 strikeouts in 55.2 innings pitched. Unless he throws a few more shutouts in the last week of the minor league season, his stint in Mobile will be his first below average season in terms of ERA+, and his first stint with an ERA above 4. McNeill does have a reliable six pitch arsenal, and even though none of the pitches are that great, he can locate them really well. His best pitch may be his mid 80s fastball, but he reminds me a bit of a Dave Rankin type pitcher, a lot of pitches, but none of them that are all that great. OSA is a big fan, thinking he can turn into a back end rotation arm, but I'm not yet convinced. He did have a little injury this season, but McNeill has stayed healthy and he could turn into a reliable arm for a team that needs a stable presence. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-16-2021, 05:18 PM	#656
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 24: September 18th-September 24th Weekly Record: 4-2 Seasonal Record: 73-68 (4th, 7.5 GB) Stars of the Week Ray Ford : 22 AB, 10 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.357 OPS Rich Langton : 23 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 10 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.201 OPS Jim Lonardo : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, 1.50 ERA Schedule 9-19: Win vs Cannons (0-6) 9-20: Win vs Cannons (7-9) 9-21: Loss vs Stars (7-6) 9-22: Loss vs Stars (17-4) 9-23: Win vs Stars (3-6) 9-24: Win vs Kings (1-12) Recap If you ignore the awful loss against the Stars, we actually had a pretty impressive week! Sure, losing 17-4 sucks a lot, but we won all the games against the Cannons and crushed the Kings, so even with the Stars taking two of three from us, we managed to improve our record. We didn't make up any ground in the standings, and seven and a half is a ton of games to make up. We are getting closer and closer to securing a record above .500, so that's good, but still a disappointing end to the season none the less. It was a week to remember for Jim Lonardo, who started the week with a 5-hit, 2-strikeout, 78 pitch shutout of the Cannons as we won 6-0. He then pitched on short rest against the Stars, allowing 9 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in a 6-3 win over the Stars. That win was a landmark for Lonardo, his 200th career win! One more win would put him 45th all time, and he could potentially reach the top 20 with 70 more wins. He's been an excellent pitcher his whole career, as the former 10th Rounder has exceeded all expectations. In 391 career appearances, he started 385 of them, currently 200-143 with a 3.62 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 619 walks, and 1,128 strikeouts in over 3,000 big league innings. He was a four time 20-game winner, led the league in strikeouts and WHIP in 1930 and 1931, BB/9 five times, and WAR twice. His WAR currently sits at 69.7, he was selected to 3-All Star Games, and he won 4 Allen Awards. Even at 35, he's still more then effective on the mound, and I think we'll get a few more good seasons out of him. Dick Lyons was our other two start starter, and he had one awful start and one great start. Lyons won both, but struggled with the Cannons, allowing 11 hits, 7 runs, and a walk with 2 strikeouts in an out away from a compete game. He then kept the Kings in check, just a single run with 5 hits, 3 walks, and a strikeout in a complete game win. That's a complete game in three of his last four starts, as the 39-year-old has now thrown 241 innings, and is on pace for a career high 257.2. Milt Fritz and Harry Parker both had awful starts against the Stars. Fritz has been cold, allowing 7 hits, 8 runs, and a walk with a strikeout in 4.1 innings pitched. Parker was a bit better, 12 hits, 7 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts with 3 homers in 6.1 innings pitched. That's 33 homers on the season for Parker, tied with Jake DeYoung for most in baseball, 10 more above anyone else. Not sure how DeYoung does it, a .805 and .738 home run factor in his home park, much lower then the 1.1118 and 1.109 Parker has to deal with. Rusty Watts was crushed in his one pen outing, 8 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), 3 walks, and a strikeout in an inning and two thirds. Ray Ford had a huge week, adding 5 more RBIs to his second best 102. He went 10-for-22 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 4 walks, and 10 runs scored. The 28-year-old has followed up an outstanding 1938 with a great 1939, slashing .335/.393/.507 (135 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 6 triples, 15 homers, and 82 runs scored. Rich Langton had an outstanding week of his own, knocking in 10 while finishing 10-for-23 with 2 doubles, a triple, homer, steal, and 3 runs scored. Freddie Jones is working on a 20 game hit streak, 9-for-24 with a double, triple, 2 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. No homer this week, but he has 11 on the season, his new career high. He didn't quite hit peak Jones level, but his .315/.399/.465 (126 OPS+) batting line has been very helpful for our lineup. Double play partner Billy Hunter was a similar 9-for-22 with 2 runs and 5 RBIs. Leo Mitchell continued to push up his average, 7-for-22 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Aart MacDonald had what feels like his first good week, 7-for-22 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, 6 runs, and 6 walks. Our catching platoon really struggled, a hit a piece in 22 trips to the plate. Taylor's was a double, adding a run and 3 RBI with a lot of outs. Looking Ahead After a 12-1 win against Brooklyn, it's only fitting if the now eliminated Kings finish the series with a dominant win of their own. We'll see Jack Goff, who is 7-6 with a 3.33 ERA (130 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 58 walks, and 26 strikeouts in 119 innings pitched. Al Wheeler is still having some issues, hitting just .254/.340/.419 (92 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 3 triples, 19 homers, and 75 RBIs in what will be his first below average season at the plate. Another guy struggling is former Cougar Fred Barrell, who has hit just .244/.315/.329 (64 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homers, and 46 RBIs. I'm not sure if Fred will rebound next season, but I'd wager a lot that Al Wheeler will be back to the Wonder Wheel next season, and Brooklyn will be right back in it. Or maybe they finally send Wheeler back to his home state of Illinois! Our homestand then comes to an end with three against the Saints. At 71-70, they are trying to finish over .500 for the first time since 1930. I mentioned DeYoung's homer troubles earlier, as it's been the major reason for his poor season. He's 13-14 with a 5.49 ERA (79 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 36 walks, and 106 strikeouts. And while he's listed as the ace, the ace has been rookie Bill Stewart, who is 8-3 with a 3.66 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 50 walks, and 77 strikeouts in 21 impressive starts. Bill Ross has maintained his rotation spot, but it's been tough for the former Cougar, who is 8-10 with a 4.86 ERA (90 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 24 walks, and 43 strikeouts across 176 innings pitched. Rookie and personal favorite of mine Spud Bent has started to get more time in the lineup, and has hit .344/.463/.625 (173 OPS+) with a double, triple, two homers, and 12 RBIs in 42 trips to the plate. Red Bond has surpassed the 20 homer mark, hitting .331/.402/.512 (130 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 2 triples, 21 homers, and 90 RBIs in another excellent season at the plate. Adam Mullins is trying to reach double digit homers, batting .317/.418/.445 (118 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 2 triples, 9 homers, and 87 RBIs with an impressive 85-to-7 walk-to-strikeout ratio. I'm hoping we can keep our nice little run going, and keep the Saints behind us. We then hit the road for three with the Wolves before a potentially needed off day. Sure they have Fred McCormick and an outstanding top three of their rotation, but the real story of the season has been Walt Pack! The Wolves dropped from second to sixth, but Walt's breakout has been huge for their future. He is hitting an elite .358/.428/.565 (149 OPS+) with 19 doubles, a triple, 10 homers, and 46 RBIs. He gets to hit right above McCormick, who is flirting with .400 yet again. He's slashing .393/.491/.671 (191 OPS+) with 11 steals, 39 doubles, 12 triples, 27 homers, and 116 RBIs with 109 walks and just 35 strikeouts. On the mound, Joe Hancock has continued his best season, 15-12 with a 3.16 ERA (138 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, 69 walks, and 116 strikeouts while being worth over 7 wins above replacement. Behind him is Bernie Johnson, 10-14 with a 3.42 ERA (127 ERA+), 1.37 WHIP, 57 walks, and 64 strikeouts in his breakout season. Bob Walls continued like he did with the Wolves after his midseason trade, 15-10 with a 3.57 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 93 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 229.1 decent innings. The Wolves turned things around in August, but I'm hoping we get the 8-17 July Wolves instead! Minor League Report The minor league season is over, and while I expect a nice big minor league report over the weekend, all of our farm teams finished above .500! Somehow, Lincoln blew their lead, and ended up tied with Terre Haute and Mobile finished 10 back, but Milwaukee, La Crosse, and San Jose all won pennants. Milwaukee managed to win 98 and San Jose 99, both with .700 win percentages. This allowed me three callups to fill up the roster, and I went with Freddie Bennett, Larry Robison, and Del Burns. Bennett will be used as a defensive replacement, Robison a pinch runner, and Burns will finish the season as our 5th starter. Starting with Bennett, he didn't hit much in Milwaukee, hitting just .253/.314/.362 (72 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 9 triples, 4 homers, 15 steals, and 54 RBIs in 474 trips to the plate. In the field, he had an outstanding 38.3 zone rating and 1.202 efficiency. Robison, 25, is going to be set to make his big league debut after hitting .328/.399/.478 (123 OPS+) in his first full season with the Blues. He added 37 doubles, 5 triples, 7 homers, 36 steals, and 82 RBIs in 520 plate appearances. Burns was the 3rd Overall Pick in the 1934 draft, and is also making his big league debut, with a start against the Kings. The skinny 6'2'' righty was 11-3 with a 4.10 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 43 walks, and 126 strikeouts in 160.1 innings for the Blues. He sits consistently in the 95-97 range with his fastball and cutter, two of five strong big league pitches. He has an excellent forkball, decent slider, and average change to go with, and he gets plenty of movement on his pitches. Weinstock thinks he'll turn into a #2, OSA a middle rotation arm, and the prospect rankings have him 8th and 93rd respectively. I can't see him getting more then three or so starts, but it will be nice to get a quick peak at another potential quality big league arm. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-17-2021, 02:13 PM	#657
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 25: September 25th-October 1st Weekly Record: 4-3 Seasonal Record: 77-71 (4th, 7 GB) Stars of the Week John Lawson : 27 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .407 AVG, 1.108 OPS Rich Langton : 31 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 8 RBI, .355 AVG, .891 OPS Leo Mitchell : 31 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .323 AVG, .944 OPS Schedule 9-25: Loss vs Kings (2-0) 9-26: Loss vs Saints (5-2) 9-27: Win vs Saints (2-9) 9-28: Loss vs Saints (8-5) 9-29: Win vs Wolves (9-2) 9-30: Win vs Wolves (7-6): 12 innings 10-1: Win vs Wolves (4-3) Recap Another 4 win week! That's our new thing! Well, just six games left in the regular season, and since we are seven games out, that means we officially cannot make the postseason. Since we have 77 wins, even if we lose the rest of our games, we'll finish an even .500. A disappointing season none the less, but at least we can't finish below .500! And we swept the Wolves! With two one run wins! The biggest news of the week, however, had nothing to do with wins and losses, it was all about John Lawson! He was just 1-for-3 in our 4-3 win, but that one hit (a single) was a monumental one for Lawson; his 2,500th career hit. "Jack the Ripper" did it in 8,029 plate appearances, and has hit an outstanding .345/.398/.508 (144 OPS+) with 458 doubles, 40 triples, 214 homers, and 1,301 RBIs. This year has technically been his worst in terms of OPS+, but his .324/.390/.487 (128 OPS+) line is still well above average, and he added 32 doubles, 3 triples, 20 homers, and 98 RBIs. Lawson had the best week on the offense, 11-for-27 with a homer and 5 RBIs, but he did have a little help. Mike Taylor had a nice win, 8-for-19 with 3 doubles and 4 RBIs. Rich Langton was 11-for-31 with a double, 2 triples, a steal, 4 runs, and 8 RBIs. Leo Mitchell was 10-for-31 with 5 doubles, a homer, 5 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Ford, Jones, and Hunter all struggled, combining to go 19-for-84, although Jones and Ford both homered. Del Burns had a pair of good starts to kick off his big league career, but he'll still be looking for his first big league win. His first start was a complete game with 7 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts, but he was tagged with the loss. His second was in our 7-6 win over the Wolves, but he went just seven in the no decision. He allowed 11 hits, 6 runs (3 earned), and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts. He'll get just one more start before the season ends, and he'll have a chance to earn a starting role out of camp next season. Harry Parker tossed a pair of complete games, a loss to the Saints and a win against the Wolves. He allowed 15 hits, 8 runs, and 8 walks with 8 strikeouts. On the season, he's made 29 starts, and will hit 30 for hopefully the first of many times in a long career. Dick Lyons had another good start, 8.1 innings with 3 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks to improve to 12-14. Jim Lonardo was a bit unlucky in his start, 11 hits, 6 runs (2 earned), and 2 strikeouts in an 8 inning loss. Milt Fritz had a bad start, but got the win, 8 innings with 8 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He's likely to finish the season with a below average ERA+, but he hit double digit wins (13) for the fourth time as a Cougar. Lastly, Bill Ashbaugh officially announced his retirement from baseball. He didn't play in the big leagues this season, but got 112 plate appearances in Newark and three more in Milwaukee. The 35-year-old will end his career with a .307/.373/.485 (135 OPS+) batting line with 185 doubles, 113 triples, 136 homers, 86 steals, and 814 RBIs. I'm hoping he takes the managerial route, and would love to add him to our staff. He was my first draft pick, and if it wasn't for injuries, probably would have been a long time Cougar star. Instead, his peak ended at 29, and all his full seasons were good at the plate. Looking Ahead We get our last off day of the season before our last road game of the season. We get three with the Sailors, who are 78-70 and just one day away from being eliminated just like we were. Doc Newell turned things around a little, now 15-9 with a 4.64 ERA (94 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 80 walks, and 62 strikeouts in what could be another 250 inning season. Herb Flynn won't hit that mark, but his 235.1 innings have been much more effective. He's 15-14 with a 3.86 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 99 walks, and 77 strikeouts. The offense has been a bit better, including Joe Watson, who is having a nice little breakout. He's hit .349/.416/.535 (138 OPS+) with 42 doubles, 17 triples, 10 homers, and 87 RBIs. Dick Walker set a career best 124 walks, while hitting .266/.401/.440 (112 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 13 triples, 14 homers, 24 steals, and 75 RBIs in another complete season. Woody Stone is in striking distance of 100 RBIs, hitting .327/.370/.441 (104 OPS+) with 38 doubles, 4 homers, and 94 RBIs. Bob Smith is a homer away from double digits again, hitting a decent .303/.391/.437 (108 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 9 homers, and 80 RBIs. It was a decent season for the Sailors, and while third was where most people predicted them to finish, it was thought they'd be closer to first and second then they ended up. We finish at home, with a three game series with the 68-80 Wolves. Fred McCormick might not hit .400, but his .394/.494/.668 (191 OPS+) batting line is easily the best in the league. He added in 39 doubles, 13 triples, 11 steals, 28 homers, 119 RBIs, and 116 walks while being worth almost 9 wins above replacement. Yes, I know I should have traded for him, but I don't think I could get over trading Harry Parker. Former Cougar draftee Reginald Westfall has started to turn things around, hitting .324/.416/.448 (118 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 5 homers, and 66 RBIs. George Garrison has been pitching better too, despite his 7-12 record. His 4.06 ERA (107 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 64 walks, and 70 strikeouts are nice for a guy who will turn 22 later in October, and I know next year he's going to get even better. I'd love to sweep them yet again, but as long as we at least split the week, I'll be happy. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 11-18-2021 at 01:07 PM.

11-18-2021, 01:39 PM	#658
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 26: October 2nd-October 8th Weekly Record: 5-1 Seasonal Record: 82-72 (3rd, 5 GB) Stars of the Week John Lawson : 29 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .414 AVG, 1.054 OPS Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 1 Saves, 5.0 IP, 1 BB, 10 K, 0.00 ERA Leo Mitchell : 27 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .407 AVG, .947 OPS Schedule 10-3: Win at Sailors (4-1) 10-4: Win at Sailors (7-6) 10-5: Win at Sailors (6-4) 10-6: Win vs Wolves (6-9) 10-7: Loss vs Wolves (4-1): 12 innings 10-8: Win vs Wolves (1-3) Recap Save the best for last I guess... We worked up a win streak of seven games, finishing the week 5-1, and ending the season ten games over .500. Third place is kind of nice, and the second time we've finished their in the last three seasons. It is also our fourth consecutive season above .500, and I'm hoping the fifth one ends up with us in first place. I really think we threw away this season, no one in the CA really wanted to win the division, and the Stars took the league with just 87 wins. I'm hoping that next season we can end up in first, but I know that I'm going to have to do something in the offseason to improve the roster. Jim Lonardo had an outstanding last week, tossing a pair of 1-run complete game wins against the Sailors and Wolves. He allowed 15 hits and 5 walks with 10 strikeouts, finishing his Cougar time 12-8 and his whole season record of 15-13 with a 3.39 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 65 walks, and 90 strikeouts in 276.1 innings pitched. It was his third highest inning count of his career, and the 35-year-old showed that age hasn't yet caught up to him. Same goes for Dick Lyons, although his start wasn't nearly as good as most of his others from this season. He allowed 12 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), and 2 walks, but was given the win to finish just 13-14. He won't win the Allen again, but he was worth five wins above average with a 3.67 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 51 walks, and 54 strikeouts. It's a longshot, but if he wins 18 games next season, he'll have 200 for his career, and he could still be effective at 40. Harry Parker made an impressive 12 inning start, but we should have taken him out after 11. Three of his four runs came in the 12th, and he allowed just 5 hits and 5 walks with 7 strikeouts. Peter the Heater struck out 10 in 5 innings out of the pen, winning two games to improve to 10-10, and despite being awful in the rotation, he finished with a 4.57 ERA (91 ERA+), 1.56 WHIP, 92 walks, and 126 strikeouts in as many innings. It may have seemed like our pitching sucked this season, but we allowed the second fewest runs in the CA, ranked top four in most stats, and no lower then six in any category. John Lawson finished his season strong, 12-for-29 with 3 doubles, a homer, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. That was his 21st homer and 103rd RBI, and Lawson finished with a near identical .328/.391/.494 (134 OPS+) triple slash from last season. Leo Mitchell reached double digits for homers, hitting his 10th in a 11-for-27 week with 4 runs and 6 RBIs. Billy Hunter sprained his knee, but still went 8-for-23 with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 runs, and an RBI. Our centerfield duo worked well, with Aart MacDonald 3-for-13 with a double, triple, 2 RBIs, 5 runs, and 2 steals. Orlin Yates was 2-for-6 with 4 walks and a run scored. Our offense did well overall, finishing first in slugging, OPS, WAR, wOBA, runs, hits, extra base hits, and homers, while second in average and OBP. You would think the most runs scored and second fewest allowed would lead to a first place finish, but we found away to blow that... Attached Images __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 11-18-2021 at 01:57 PM.

11-19-2021, 03:36 PM	#659
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Minor League Report The Stars are currently two wins away from a championship, but we'll take a look at each of our minor league clubs, including three teams with a championship of their own. I imagine writing a variety of pieces the next couple of days, ideally an Amateur Report, The Cougars that Never Were, and potentially an End of the Season Review before the season ends and I'll be able to start on our top prospect list. AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 98-42 (.700) Milwaukee has had a lot of success in the last few seasons, securing back-to-back pennants and in four of the las six seasons. The pitching was outstanding, ranking first in each category except walks (2nd) and strikeouts (3rd) while they were tied for least homers allowed. The ace of the staff was "El Conejo" Juan Pomales, who finished a team best 15-6 with a 3.84 ERA (131 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 38 walks, and 99 strikeouts in 171 innings pitched. Pomales did an excellent job lowering his walks and increasing his strikeouts, all while maintaining similar ERAs and WHIPs. Of course, he also hits and fields well, slashing .310/.397/.458 (117 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 10 triples, 9 homers, 23 steals, and 65 RBIs with efficiencies of 1.065, 1.011, and 1.064 in left, center, and right. This might be his last full season in the minors, and I expect Pomales to try and take the right field job out of camp next season. Del Burns also had a decent season in Milwaukee before his promotion, finishing 11-3 with a 4.10 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 43 walks, and 126 strikeouts in 160.1 innings. Like Pomales, he dropped his walks and increased his strikeouts. He was worth almost a full five wins above replacement with help from his lowest minor league WHIP and highest K/9. Lefty Walker Pearce had a breakout season, 14-8 with a 4.01 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 51 walks, and 74 strikeouts in 179.2 innings pitched. He did have 13 less effective Milwaukee starts last season, and he looks to have earned a 40-man roster spot. He has the tools to start, a polished sinker, slider, change mix, but I think his future may end up in the pen. He'll look to take Cal Knight's roster spot, but my scout thinks Pearce is the best reliever in our system. Pug Bryan and Joe Brown both spent about half the season in Milwaukee, but Pug was good and Brown was not. Pug was 5-2 with a 3.48 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 35 walks, and 39 strikeouts in 64.1 innings pitched, but Brown was 7-3 with a 5.04 ERA (100 ERA+), 1.51 WHIP, 15 walks, and 54 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched. Neither pitched well, and both will need to secure a roster spot next season as they are out of options. The offense had a lot of top hitters, including 40-man players Johnny Waters and Bobby Mills. Waters hit .358/.417/.524 (139 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 12 homers, and 79 RBIs while Mills slashed .340/.414/.596 (155 OPS+) with 35 doubles, 2 triples, 19 homers, and 99 RBIs. Larry Robison had a nice little breakout, slashing .328/.399/.478 (123 OPS+) with 37 doubles, 5 triples, 7 homers, 36 steals, and 82 RBIs. John Johnson got his first taste of AAA, and the 25-year-old center fielder hit .285/.389/.452 (114 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 6 triples, 10 homers, 14 steals, and 46 RBIs. Hal Wood also had a successful first try, batting .324/.405/.429 (112 OPS+) with 13 doubles, a triple, 4 homers, 3 steals, and 51 RBIs while getting some time at second and third while Freddie Bennett was at short. We had a lot of good offensive production from a group of what should be a lot of productive regulars. AA Mobile Commodores (Dixie League): 79-61(.564) The only team of ours not to finish at least tied for first place, the Commodores kept up the trend of being the worst Cougar farm team. We did have the best rotation in the league, led by 22-year-old southpaw Harl Haines. He made 16 of his 23 starts in Mobile, going 11-5 with a 2.84 ERA (163 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 31 walks, and 68 strikeouts in 133 strong innings pitched. Former 2nd Rounder Doc Smith had one more start and 147.1 innings pitched, going 11-4 with a 3.60 ERA (128 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 59 walks, and 59 strikeouts. Art Saunders was effective when healthy, 10-2 with a 2.64 ERA (175 ERA+), 1.04 WHIP, 14 walks, and 59 strikeouts in 119.1 innings pitched. Johnny Ruby split his time between Mobile and Lincoln, 7-5 in 13 starts with a 4.10 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 48 walks, and 59 strikeouts. Johnnie Jones started his Cougar career in Mobile, but "The Patron Saint of Groundballs" has been roughed up in his nine starts. He was an even 4-4 with a 6.60 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.60 WHIP, 22 walks, and 20 strikeouts. The offense wasn't great, I had a handful of guys who may have been a level high, plus they lost the biggest piece of the offense in Chubby Hall midseason. He it an outstanding .399/.455/.592 (174 OPS+) with 16 doubles, a triple, 8 homers, and 36 RBIs. Skipper Schneider only got into 44 games because of the draft and the injury, but he hit an impressive .349/.387/.509 (134 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homers, 3 steals, and 31 RBIs in just under 200 trips to the plate. Tony Mullis spent half his season in Mobile too, hitting .313/.365/.436 (110 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 8 triples, 5 steals, and 46 RBIs. Same for Marv Smith, who hit .319/.415/.435 (124 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 7 steals, and 35 RBIs. Hal Wood hit a similar .310/.375/.464 (120 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 8 triples, 2 homers, and 38 RBIs. Mobile won the league in 1933 and 1936 and hasn't finished below third in a season since 1932, but I'm hoping we'll be able to get over the hump shortly. A Lincoln Legislators (Heartland League): 83-57 (.592) A 10-14 September capped off with a late four game sweep by the Terre Haute Brewers who came back to tie us for first, Lincoln will own a share of the 1939 Heartland League title. They won the title last year too, but it was the first time since 1927. Lincoln didn't have any qualified hitters, as the team saw a lot of movement. Jocko Pollard had a huge season for them, slashing .330/.384/.571 (132 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 2 triples, 21 homers, and 102 RBIs. Chick Browning spent most of his season as Pollard's teammate, batting .328/.397/.532 (127 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 2 triples, 14 homers, and 60 RBIs in just shy of 400 PAs. This years 6th Rounder Arnie Scurlock spent most of his time in Lincoln, hitting .346/.414/.447 (112 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 4 steals, and 29 RBIs. Tony Mullis came close to .400 in his 278 Lincoln PAs, hitting .387/.450/.512 (136 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, and 41 RBIs. We allowed the fewest amount of runs in a hitter friendly league where a 4.71 team ERA was also the best. Ray Wilcox was the only qualified pitcher, going 12-7 with a 5.23 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 48 walks, and 84 strikeouts in 151.1 innings pitched. Ray McNeil finished the season in Mobile, but his Lincoln numbers were better. He was 5-3 with a 3.22 ERA (166 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 9 walks, and 32 strikeouts in his 10 starts. Same goes for Johnny Ruby, who was 5-3 with a 3.66 ERA (147 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 37 walks, and 65 strikeouts in his 11 starts. Billy Seawood spent time with both San Jose and Mobile as well, but he had more innings (85) with the Legislators then the other two spots combined. Seawood was 6-4 with a 3.60 ERA (149 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, 24 walks, and 32 strikeouts. I'm hoping we can hold first on our own next season, but I think if I just held a few more guys down, Lincoln would have been the sole recipient of first place. B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 99-41 (.707) One more win and the Cougars would have won 100 games! No, not the Chicago one... The much better San Jose Cougars! San Jose led the league in nearly offensive and pitching category, but didn't have a single qualifier for hitters or pitchers. Hod Seagroves really came along this season, hitting .334/.417/.454 (131 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 3 steals, and 62 RBIs while spending his time split between first and second. Chick Browning only got 30 games there, but his .398/.492/.743 (224 OPS+) line complimented by 5 doubles, 2 triples, 10 homers, and 35 RBIs. Sammy Dillon got a few more games, 51 to his name, and hit .272/.415/.462 (132 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 8 homers, and 32 RBIs. Former 6th Rounder Harry Avery had a breakout season, hitting an impressive .315/.463/.486 (151 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 9 homers, 16 steals, and 65 RBIs while getting significant time at second, third, and first. Danny Goff Jr. spent most of his time after the draft in San Jose, and hit .338/.432/.461 (136 OPS+) with 11 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, 5 steals, and 30 RBIs at the plate, while 5-1 with a 4.62 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.89 WHIP, 34 walks, and 19 strikeouts. Other starters like Boney Joe Crosby had better seasons on the mound, 8-5 with a 3.32 ERA (147 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 37 walks, and 55 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched. Oliver Allen was a perfect 10-0 after a 6-0 in La Crosse, working to a 3.52 ERA (139 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 27 walks, and 39 strikeouts. Willie Gonzalez Jr. had 13 excellent starts of his own, 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA (184 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 27 walks, and 43 strikeouts across 71.1 innings pitched. Lefty John Johnson was 8-4 with a 4.01 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.59 WHIP, 51 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 94.1 innings pitched. Ed Wilkinson started his season with the Cougars, and did better there then in Lincoln, 8-2 with a 3.77 ERA (129 ERA+), 1.22 WHIP, 23 walks, and 59 strikeouts in half of his 24 starts on the season. The Baby Cougars have now won three of the last four C-O-W League Titles, and this was their best season yet. C La Crosse Lions (Upper Mississippi Valley Association): 90-50 (.643) La Crosse had one of the best offenses in the league, and while a lot of their talent kept moving up, they had a few reliable bats who lasted the entire season. 19-year-old Solly Skidmore missed some time with injury, but hit a strong .342/.419/.484 (109 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 11 homers, and 72 RBIs in just shy of 400 plate appearances. Harry Carr hit .335/.397/.478 (102 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 7 triples, 11 homers, 58 RBIs, and 44 steals. Jasper Wright spent most time out in center while slashing .320/.442/.467 (111 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 12 triples, 7 homers, 37 steals, and 62 RBIs. Max Rucker spent about half his season with the Lions, batting .355/.405/.573 (125 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 13 homers, 10 steals, and 62 RBIs. There weren't too many guys who stood out from the pack in the lineup, but there wasn't a real weak spot and each of the players could help extend an inning. It was tough to be a good pitcher in C ball, as Ron Sexton's 5.91 ERA was actually 5 points better then the adjusted league average. He was the lone qualifier, as the 19-year-old we acquired from Pittsburgh finished 11-7 with a 1.72 WHIP, 66 walks, and 55 strikeouts in 163 innings pitched. Oliver Allen made just 8 starts, but was 6-0 with a stunning 2.72 ERA (228 ERA+), 1.11 WHIP, 15 walks, and 37 strikeouts in an out shy of 50 innings. Willie Gonzalez Jr. looked good too, 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA (160 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 17 walks, and 32 strikeouts through 60.1 innings. After just one start last season and fresh off injury recovery, Gonzalez did an outstanding job getting back on track. There was a lot of turnover, 30 different pitchers throwing an inning for the Lions, and I expect that trend to continue with the midseason drafts. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

11-20-2021, 04:53 PM	#660
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Amateur Report: College Somewhat shockingly, the New York Stars swept the heavily favored Pittsburgh Miners in the World Championship Series, as Dave Trowbridge hit .600 against the team that once traded him to New York. This means the offseason will commence on Monday, and we will reach closer to the December Draft, much quicker then expected. C Tucker Ness School: Boston State 1939: .292/.412/.404, 201 PA, 9 2B, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 2 SB Career (HS): .411/.481/.598, 428 PA, 39 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 91 RBI, 15 SB Career (COL): .301/.413/.411, 18 2B, 6 HR, 62 RBI, 5 SB A four year starter in high school, Tucker Ness was one of the impossibles that I decided to let go to college, and he now sends me thank you notes weekly for letting him pursue his education and secure a much higher draft selection. A 14th Rounder back in 1937, Ness was recently ranked 10th in the TWIFB Mock Draft, and I would not be surprised if he is not only a first round pick, but the first catcher selected. Ness has a great feel for the strike zone at the plate, consistently drawing walks and avoiding pitcher's out pitches when they want him to chase. He pairs that with above average contact potential, but there isn't much power yet, gap or home run. He does profile as an above average defender behind the plate as well, and he adapts well in any situation. Ness won't be a target of mine, I like our catching depth as is, but he has all the tools to develop into a top big league catcher. CF John Graves School: Detroit City College 1939: .267/.405/.492, 237 PA, 8 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 35 SB Career (HS): .423/.508/.662, 376 PA, 37 2B, 12 3B, 4 HR, 77 RBI, 69 SB Career (COL): .279/.409/.480, 494 PA, 17 2B, 8 3B, 16 HR, 84 RBI, 73 SB Another 14th Round Pick, it was the Keystones who decided to let Graves go to college, and like Ness, their GM gets the thank you notes weekly. Graves ranks a spot above Ness in the TWIFB Mock Draft, and was taken with the pick directly after Ness in 1937. In one of the toughest college leagues, Graves has put up back-to-back .400 OBP seasons and was just a homer shy of 10 as a sophomore. A standout defender out in center, Graves' speed allows him to make most plays on the grass, and he definitely has the talent to stick out in center. He does a great job working the count, and he had an outstanding 44-to-9 walk-to-strikeout ratio this season. He didn't hit for that high of an average this season, but I think with a little work, his hit tool should be well above average as well, and I've liked what he's shown with his power. He seems to have it all, and if the power he's shown in college is legit, Graves should be able to flourish in the big leagues for years to come. RHP Bill Sohl School: Lane State 1939: 7-5, 114.2 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 40 BB, 96 K Career: 14-8, 95 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 71 BB, 173 K Leading the Lane State rotation for the past two seasons was Billy Sohl, a rather soft tossing righty who can still rack up the strikeouts. He has been rather consistent, putting together similar ERAs, WHIPs, K/9, BB/9, HR/9, and WAR with the Emeralds, and he's shown a rather polished repertoire. His best pitch is a changeup, with OSA remarks as elite, and it pairs really well with his mid 80s fastball. The forkball is probably his second best pitch, but his fourth, a slider, is really just there for show. Still, his top three pitches are really good, and enough to have him start in the big leagues, that he won't have to rely on his slider much at all. He gets plenty of movement and at times shows pinpoint control, giving him average or better in all three important pitching ratings. The stuff is the weak point of the three, but the harder he gets his fastball going, the better the rest of his pitches are. Right now he'll have to rely heavily on that changeup, but I can only imagine how effective it could be if he was throwing in the 90s. OSA thinks he'll be an impact starter, I'm not that sold yet, but he's got a future at least in the middle of a rotation, and with how developed he is, a team desperate for pitching could fast track him to the show. RHP Tommy Anderson School: Chesapeake State 1939: 8-3, 102 IP, 2.91 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 44 BB, 91 K Career: 17-8, 230.2 IP, 2.77 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 81 BB, 207 K "Tidewater Tommy" has managed to keep his ERA below 3 in his first two seasons, including a 2.66 mark as a Freshman where he struck out 116 batters in just shy of 130 innings pitched. He won't turn 21 until July, but the lanky 6'4'' groundballer already projects to be a really talented big league player. Like Sohl, he doesn't throw very hard, sitting in the 84-86 range, but his four pitches aren't as polished. He can be dominant when he is on, but currently, only his changeup is a reliable pitch. It has huge upside, along with his fastball, cutter, and forkball, and due to his height, I expect he'll start throwing his pitches much harder as he continues to develop. His cutter gets nice bite, and his changeup drops a lot, but he's still yet to master his control over those pitches. This year especially, he had issues with command, walking nearly 4 per 9 in a bit of a down season compared to when he was a Freshman. Regardless, the results were still better then most college arms, and it was against great competition at Chesapeake State. As a league, we like to reach on pitchers, so I can see Anderson being taken a bit earlier then he should, but he's very raw and a rare high ceiling, low floor college arm with a lot more boom-or-bust potential then most. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe